Jim Ratcliffe blames British envy and United sparks controversy
Jim Ratcliffe, co‑owner of Manchester United and tax resident in Monaco since 2020, lamented this Saturday that the British, unlike the Americans, do not applaud the great fortunes nor the “wealth creators”, in an interview given to the BBC that has sparked a strong controversy.
The British magnate had already caused a stir on previous occasions, such as when he claimed that his country was “colonised by immigrants”; those statements earned him the label of wading into media “puddles”.
Criticism of envy and British decline
During the interview, Ratcliffe said that “In America they applaud people who create wealth” and added that, unfortunately, in the United Kingdom there is a certain envy towards wealth at the moment. His fortune is estimated at £15 billion, equivalent to €17.5 billion, according to the latest calculations published by AP.
Ratcliffe also reflected on the country’s history, recalling that the United Kingdom had the largest empire in the world, won two world wars and was an honoured people, but he claimed that today it is “in free fall” and in decline.
The businessman, owner of the chemical company INEOS, noted that “there is no one tough enough to tackle the migration problem” nor to face subsidies, and warned that someone will have to do it despite the lack of will.
Response from the Muslim supporters' club
Ratcliffe’s words ignited the anger of the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club, which issued a statement harshly criticizing his remarks and recalling the diversity of players, staff, stewardesses, security teams and fans who come from different countries, cultures, races, religions and backgrounds.
The supporters emphasized that Manchester United would not be what it is without that plurality and stated that the club does not emotionally belong to investment funds, shareholders or millionaires. Moreover, they demanded that the Glazers, the original shareholders of the club, and Jim Ratcliffe step down from their positions.