‘He is Completely Deluded’ - Manchester United Owner Labelled ‘Total Embarrassment’ After Out of Touch Comment

Manchester United's minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is facing sharp criticism from fan groups after claiming the UK has been "colonised by immigrants."

The INEOS billionaire's remarks, made during the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, have been condemned as "a total embarrassment" and "out of touch" by prominent supporter organisations.

Speaking to Sky News, Ratcliffe commented on the UK's economic state, saying, "You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it? It's costing too much money."

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The 73-year-old also suggested that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is too "nice" to tackle difficult issues and revealed he had met with Reform leader Nigel Farage, whom he described as "an intelligent man" with "good intentions."

Ratcliffe drew a parallel between the country's challenges and his own unpopular decisions at Old Trafford. "I've been very unpopular at Manchester United because we've made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view – and I think we're beginning to see some evidence... that that's beginning to pay off," he stated.

"If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, then you're going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage."

The comments prompted a swift and strong response from fan groups. The '58, a protest group, issued a statement challenging Ratcliffe's assessment of his impact on the club and criticising him for commenting on national issues while living as a tax exile in Monaco.

"A very ill-advised statement from Sir Jim Ratcliffe today," the group declared. "Once again a total embarrassment... Commenting on the issues of our country while living in Monaco to avoid paying tax is bad enough. However, his comments on Manchester United are particularly worrying."

The '58 disputed Ratcliffe's claims of improvement, pointing to recent managerial changes and attributing any positive form to luck rather than strategy. The statement also highlighted fan grievances, including "draconian measures for season-ticket holders," rising ticket prices, and the "unwanted" proposal for a new stadium.

"If he cannot see the reasons why he’s unpopular then he is completely deluded; completely out-of-touch with the core fanbase that made our club what it is today," the statement concluded.

The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club also released a strongly-worded statement, expressing deep concern over Ratcliffe's language and his praise for Farage.

"We are deeply concerned by recent remarks describing the UK as having been 'colonised' by immigrants," the club said. "The term 'colonised' is not neutral, it echoes language frequently used in far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats."

The group warned that such rhetoric has "real-world consequences" and risks "legitimising prejudice and deepening division" amid rising hate crimes in the UK. "Manchester United is a global club built on diversity – on players, staff and supporters from every background, faith and ethnicity. The strength of our club and of our country lies in that diversity."

Keir Starmer has called on Sir Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for recent comments, labeling them "offensive and wrong." The Labour leader stressed that public discourse must be handled responsibly, avoiding language that could alienate communities or promote intolerance.