MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club has called for club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to leave the club, with his latest comments about immigration coming as the team struggles on the field.

In February, the 73-year-old Ratcliffe said the United Kingdom had been “colonized by immigrants” and later apologized if he offended anyone.

He has doubled down on those comments in a BBC interview this week, once again putting forward his views on immigration by saying the country “is on the slide” because of it.

“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.

“Nobody’s tough enough to deal with the immigration problem. “Nobody’s tough enough to deal with the benefits problem. But somebody needs to do it.”

The MUMSC condemned Ratcliffe’s words earlier in the year and have once again spoken out against his latest comments, describing them as “deeply disappointing."

“Our players, staff, stewards, security teams and supporters come from different countries, cultures, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds," the group said in a 750-word statement. “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 group said it has “lost confidence” in Ratcliffe and United's Americans owners, the Glazer family, “after years of decline, broken promises and repeated failure.”

“Enough is enough," the statement said. “It is time for change. The Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe must go.”

United has lost two of its first four games in the league and was knocked out of the English League Cup by Brighton in midweek.

Fans protested against the current ownership before the 1-0 loss to Manchester City last week with a banner that read “the way you treat us is a disgrace."

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

News from © The Associated Press, 2026