Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe will face no disciplinary action for saying Britain had been “colonized” by immigrants, the Football Association said on Saturday.
British billionaire Ratcliffe last week apologized for his choice of language but said it was important to raise the issue of immigration. His initial comments drew a rebuke from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As background guidance, we have issued Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a reminder of his responsibilities as a Participant in English football when taking part in media interviews. We won’t be taking any further action,” the FA said in a brief statement.
Ratcliffe, the founder of chemicals giant INEOS, had said in the February 11 interview that high migration and people living on benefits were damaging the economy.
“You can’t have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonized — it’s costing too much money,” Ratcliffe told the broadcaster. “The UK has been colonized by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?“
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick avoided wading into the controversy on Friday, instead emphasising the club’s proud tradition of equality and global reach.
“Equality, diversity and respect for each other is something we look to carry through every day,” Carrick told reporters ahead of a Premier League trip to Everton.
Manchester United, fourth in the league with 45 points in 26 games, will face eighth-placed Everton on Monday, hoping to consolidate a guaranteed Champions League spot with a top-four finish.
FA won’t take action against Man Utd owner Ratcliffe over immigration remarks
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FA won’t take action against Man Utd owner Ratcliffe over immigration remarks
Supersub strikes again as Sesko gives Man United win at Everton
- The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth
LIVERPOOL, England: Manchester United supersub Benjamin Sesko scored 13 minutes after entering the field to give his side a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Monday.
It was the third time in four games that Sesko has scored after coming off the bench and secured points for United.
“I believe in me and so do the other players as well,” Sesko told Sky Sports. “They know what they are going to get when I arrive in the game. It’s up to me to deliver of course.”
His goal with 19 minutes remaining finished off the slickest move of an otherwise stodgy game.
Bryan Mbeumo controlled Matheus Cunha’s superb long ball and played a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of Sesko, who steered the ball past Jordan Pickford with aplomb.
“It was a great finish,” United interim coach Michael Carrick said. “It was a ruthless finish. I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from Cunha and Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break.”
Until then defenses had been on top and the lack of attacking fluency was not helped by a heavy pitch that appeared to slow down both teams.
The result took fourth-placed United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool. United was three behind Aston Villa.
It also extended Carrick’s unbeaten run to six games since he replaced Ruben Amorim on Jan. 13.
The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth and eight points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool.
David Moyes’ men have gone seven games without a win at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Generally we did very well in lots of bits,” Moyes said. “We got done on the counterattack and they ran away and got the goal that was there. We put in a great effort to get the goal but lacked the quality to make it count.”
