Glazers 'horrified' with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United have spent the past week trying to keep the focus on football, but events away from the pitch have once again forced the club into damage-control mode.

Old Trafford is no stranger to controversy at boardroom level, yet even by recent standards, the timing could hardly be worse as the club looks to reset its identity.

With scrutiny intensifying around ownership, those at Carrington are aware that perception now matters almost as much as results.

Last week, attention turned to remarks made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, comments that have prompted widespread debate, political reaction and now potential consequences within football’s governing structures.

The immediate fallout has already been felt inside Manchester United, who moved quickly to issue a strongly worded statement reaffirming the club’s commitment to being inclusive and welcoming.

Although Ratcliffe was not named directly, the wording was widely interpreted as a clear attempt to distance the institution from the views expressed, a move that sources say was approved at the highest level of the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe later issued an apology, saying he regretted his choice of language while stressing the importance of controlled and well-managed immigration, but the damage had already been done.

Behind the scenes, the reaction has been even more severe, with sources indicating that the club’s majority owners, the Glazer family, were left horrified by the episode, as reported by the BBC.

Those familiar with their thinking suggest the remarks were viewed as reckless and potentially harmful to the club’s global image, particularly given United’s long-standing emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

There is also concern that such controversy risks unsettling sponsors and partners, something the Glazers are believed to be especially sensitive to given United’s reliance on brand strength beyond the pitch.

For all parties involved, the coming weeks may prove just as important as the FA’s ruling.