Gary Lineker slams Man Utd co‑owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as unpleasant

On a quiet Saturday morning at a Manchester café, Gary Lineker turned his microphone on Manchester United’s co‑owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, describing him as ‘an unpleasant human being’ and even worse than the Glazer family.

Lineker’s blistering assessment

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the England legend said, “I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top.” He added that the club’s 28.94 per cent owned by Ratcliffe since February 2024 is “a bit of shambles of a football club”.

Lineker also referenced the club’s on‑field woes, noting a “woeful performance” that left United scraping a 1‑1 draw at Fulham, a side sitting bottom of the Premier League.

Controversial remarks fuel criticism

Ratcliffe sparked fresh outrage on Saturday when he claimed “nobody’s tough enough to deal with the immigration problem” in the UK, echoing earlier statements that the nation had been “colonised by immigrants”. The Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club responded by demanding his exit, saying the INEOS chairman “must go”.

Over the weekend the billionaire also spoke in Denmark at the launch of the EU’s first carbon‑capture system, where he lamented a loss of confidence in the UK and nostalgically recalled the country’s imperial past.

Comments Sport Nathan Ridley Senior Sports Reporter Sep 21, 2026 View 3 Images – the byline that introduced Lineker’s comments – underscores how the criticism has been widely circulated.

Lineker did not shy away from the political fallout, noting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s call for a public apology and calling the hypocrisy “difficult to watch”, especially as Ratcliffe lives in Monaco and allegedly avoids UK taxes.

He also warned that United’s troubles extend to the academy, citing 15‑year‑old wonderkid JJ Gabriel’s desire to leave due to a lack of first‑team chances, and lamented a “ground that’s falling apart” and “various complaints”.