Manchester United Muslim supporters group calls for co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to go over 'unacceptable' comments

Manchester United's Muslim supporters' Club (MUMSC)  has called for club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to resign after he doubled down on anti-immigration views in an interview with the BBC this week, saying that the UK was in decline.

Ratcliffe, who lives in Monaco, has previously stated that the UK is being "colonised" by immigrants, and has railed against benefits claimants.

 "We had the greatest empire in the world. We were a great people," Ratcliffe said. "We won two world wars. We're good, honest folk. But unfortunately, at the moment, I think the UK is on the slide. It's quite difficult to see how we arrest it."

Speaking on immigration and the UK's welfare system, Ratcliffe said that "nobody's tough enough" to deal with the "problem".

MUMSC slammed the remarks as "completely unacceptable", 

"Our players, staff, stewards, security teams and supporters come from different countries, cultures, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds," the group said on X, in what was described as a "statement of no confidence".

"Manchester United would not be Manchester United without them. That diversity isn't a weakness of Manchester United. It is part of Manchester United.

"Different backgrounds. Different beliefs. Different politics. One Manchester United."

The statement ended with a call for a change in ownership of the club.

“Enough is enough. It is time for change. The Glazers [co-owners] and Sir Jim Ratcliffe must go.”

The call from the MUMSC comes amid sustained anger at the club's owners -- both the Glazers and Ratcliffe -- among fans. 

In 2025, the club, under Ratcliffe's leadership, made 450 employees redundant, drawing backlash from supporters. A crackdown on ticket touting and an increase in ticket prices has also proven unpopular.

Confounding the club's problems has been a streak of poor performances in the Premier League, which they last won in the 2012-13 season.

Currently at 13th in the table, the team has lost two of its first four games of the season, and was knocked out of the English League Cup by Brighton this week.