Man Utd 'prides itself on diversity' after Ratcliffe's immigration comments

After the controversial comments, the club has issued a statement saying they celebrate their "diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters".

"Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club.

"Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home."

Co-owner Sir Ratcliffe suggested the UK had been "colonised by immigrants" and has since apologised that "some people were offended" by his comments.

"You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in," he told Sky News.

"I mean, the UK has been colonised. It's costing too much money.

“I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it's 70 million. That's 12 million people."

Ratcliffe's numbers are incorrect; Britain’s population was 67 million in 2020, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The last time 58 million people lived in Britain was the year 2000.

Immigration minister Mike Tapp told LBC: “I think they're inappropriate comments. And this is a man that's not even in the country.

"He's living in Monaco after backing Brexit. So it's all a bit odd. My view on this is that we need to restore order and control to the immigration system.

"That's exactly what we're doing. But we're doing that within our British values, which is, of course, having a firm system that's fair also.

"And dialling up the rhetoric and being divisive is not helpful to anybody in this country. It's about being decent and that's what we are as a government.”

The Manchester United co-owner said in the statement on Thursday: "I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe."

He added: "It is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth."

It comes as the Chancellor branded his earlier comments on immigration "disgusting", after Sir Keir Starmer called on Mr Ratcliffe to apologise.

Manchester United has pointed out that it has supported the "No Room for Racism" campaign.

They also celebrated supporters' clubs' events, including the Disabled Supporters' Association's Christmas Party and our Jewish Supporters' Club's Chanukah event.

Since launching their All Red All Equal initiative in 2016, the club said they had "embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do".

"We remain deeply committed to the principles and spirit of that campaign," they added.

"We will continue to represent our people, our city and our fans with purpose and pride."

On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters: “The Prime Minister asked for an apology, and one’s been issued, and it’s absolutely right that Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for that language.”

Pressed on whether it went far enough, the official said: “It’s right that he’s apologised. It’s for Mr Ratcliffe to speak to his apology… It’s not for me.

"The Prime Minister was clear that those comments were offensive and wrong, and that’s why he called on Mr Ratcliffe to apologise.”

He added: “We are of course of the view that there should be a serious debate about immigration, but the Prime Minister believes in a Britain built for all, and that those comments were inflammatory and divisive.”