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Jim Ratcliffe apologises for ‘choice of language’ after saying immigrants ‘colonising’ UK
PoliticsSports•February 12, 2026 at 5:12 PMNational

Jim Ratcliffe apologises for ‘choice of language’ after saying immigrants ‘colonising’ UK

By Alexandra Topping, and Nick Ames in Brussels•The Guardian - UK News

Monaco-based Manchester United co-owner responds to politicians’ and football fans’ anger at ‘disgraceful’ wordsUK politics live – latest updatesMonaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe faced implicit criticism from the football club he co-owns, after widespread condemnation of his claims that the UK is being “colonised” by immigrants.The Manchester United co-owner was forced to issue a heavily qualified apology on Thursday after citing inaccurate immigration statisticsin comments labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of “far-right narratives”. Following a day of censure from the prime minister, football fans, union leaders and anti-racism campaigners, Ratcliffe said he was sorry his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe”. Continue reading...

Monaco-based Manchester United co-owner responds to politicians’ and football fans’ anger at ‘disgraceful’ words

Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe faced implicit criticism from the football club he co-owns, after widespread condemnation of his claims that the UK is being “colonised” by immigrants.

The Manchester United co-owner was forced to issue a heavily qualified apology on Thursday after citing inaccurate immigration statisticsin comments labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of “far-right narratives”. Following a day of censure from the prime minister, football fans, union leaders and anti-racism campaigners, Ratcliffe said he was sorry his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe”.

Continue reading...