Kick It Out condemns Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘disgraceful’ comments on immigration, calling them divisive and inaccurate.

A leading British football anti-discrimination body has condemned Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for “disgraceful” comments on immigration.

Kick It Out issued a statement after the billionaire businessman claimed the “UK has been colonised by immigrants” in a television interview.

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are disgraceful and deeply divisive at a time when football does so much to bring communities together,” the organisation said.

It added that the language “has no place in English football”.

Ratcliffe made the remarks in an interview with Sky News, where he suggested “huge levels of immigration” had harmed the UK economy.

“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” the Monaco-based 73-year-old said.

He repeated the claim that “the UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”

Ratcliffe also cited erroneous population statistics, claiming the UK population was 58 million in 2020 and “now it’s 70 million”.

Official Office for National Statistics data shows the population was 67 million in mid-2020 and just under 70 million in mid-2024.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer later urged Ratcliffe to apologise for the “offensive and wrong” comments.

Several Manchester United supporters’ groups also criticised the remarks.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has worked with Ratcliffe on plans for a new stadium, condemned the “inflammatory” statement.

Burnham said calling for immigration curbs was “one thing”, but portraying new arrivals “as a hostile invading force is quite another”.

“It is inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory and should be withdrawn,” he added.

Kick It Out’s statement also reminded Ratcliffe that Manchester United has a diverse fan base.

It noted the club plays in a city “whose cultural history has been enriched by immigrants”.

 The Sun Malaysia