- Title: Manchester United fans condemn co-owner Ratcliffe's comments on immigration
- Date: 12th February 2026
- Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF OLD TRAFFORD STADIUM STATUE OF FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER MATT BUSBY EXTERIOR OF STADIUM VARIOUS OF FANS TAKING PICTURES IN FRONT OF STADIUM STADIUM ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL, GEORGE BOWDLER, 26, SAYING "I think it's a very irresponsible thing to say. He
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: CLUB FOOTBALL IMMIGRATION JIM RATCLIFFE KEIR STARMER MAN UNITED MANCHESTER MANCHESTER UNITED MANUTD POLITICS
- Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: UK
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001498012022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fans of Manchester United football club condemned comments made by the co-owner Jim Ratcliffe on Thursday (February 12), after the British billionaire said the country had been "colonized by immigrants."
Ratcliffe apologised for his comments.
"I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth," he said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they were wrong and would play into the hands of those who wanted to divide the country, and finance minister Rachel Reeves said the comments were "unacceptable" and "disgusting."
Immigration has consistently been among the top voter concerns in Britain according to opinion polls, and has helped fuel the rise of Nigel Farage's right-wing populist party Reform UK.
Rhetoric around immigration has hardened in recent years and a wave of protests broke out last summer outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Widespread rioting also occurred in 2024, sparked by false information circulating online that a teenager who killed three young girls was an Islamist migrant.
Sky said Ratcliffe had cited incorrect figures to back up his argument. He said the population had risen from 58 million to 70 million people since 2020. The Office for National Statistics estimates the UK population was 67 million in mid-2020 and 69 million in mid-2024.
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