Former Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker, has publicly criticized Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's controversial comments about immigrants. The remarks have sparked a significant backlash and gone viral on social media platforms.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is already an unpopular figure at Old Trafford due to his cost-cutting strategy that led to 450 redundancies since his takeover in February 2024, faced heavy criticism this week. His contentious comments suggested that Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants who are draining state resources. He further cited inaccurate population figures during an interview with Sky News.
Ratcliffe also warned about profound political, social and economic challenges that the country might face due to rising immigration levels.
Public backlash and apology
The backlash was swift and severe from various quarters leading Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urge Ratcliffe to apologize for his remarks. Following this advice, he issued an apology and Manchester United released a statement emphasizing its position as a global brand embracing different races and cultures. However, the apology did not stop critics from voicing their opinions - one of the most notable responses came from Gary Lineker.
Gary Lineker is best known as a Premier League legend who transitioned into becoming BBC’s leading football presenter through his role on its flagship programme. Known for not shying away from political issues, he took aim at Ratcliffe during a segment on 'The Rest is Football' podcast this week.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
"The hypocrisy really - the guy's a migrant himself, an economic migrant [because] he lives in Monaco. You can have a gripe all you like, but at least be here, pay tax and contribute to our society. I would say a lot of these migrants who come in contribute enormously and facts show you that in terms of revenue and paid tax. Whereas, Jim out there, in Monaco, is doing everything he can to avoid paying tax."
"Also, you're one of the owners of Manchester United, a club that has a lot of players from overseas. When he's talking about colonised with immigrants, is it OK that you're a white person living abroad, not a brown or black person? I don't know, only he can answer that question. Lots and lots of my friends who support United have come on and said similar things to what I'm saying now, they're very disappointed. Look at the story of [how] Amad has ended up here. So I find it deeply concerning that an owner of a football club can say that sort of thing. Anyway, we'll move on."
While Sir Jim Ratcliffes' comments have stirred controversy within sports circles and beyond, they have also sparked important conversations about immigration and diversity. As a global brand, Manchester United's response to the situation will be closely watched by fans and critics alike.
