‘The way you treat us is a disgrace’

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Manchester United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club has called for club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to leave the club, as fresh controversy over his comments on immigration coincides with the team’s struggles on the field.

In February, the 73-year-old Ratcliffe said the United Kingdom had been “colonised by immigrants” and later apologised if his remarks had caused offence.

This week, however, he doubled down on those comments in a BBC interview, again expressing his views on immigration and 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 Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club (MUMSC) condemned Ratcliffe’s remarks earlier this year and has again criticised 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 had “lost confidence” in Ratcliffe and United’s American 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 have lost two of their opening four league matches and were eliminated from the English League Cup by Brighton in midweek.

Supporters also staged a protest against the current ownership before last week’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, displaying a banner that read: “the way you treat us is a disgrace”.