How Ratcliffe’s comments impact Man United
Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
The Athletic
4.6 • 771 Ratings
🗓️ 16 February 2026
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A weekend without Premier League football and, with Manchester United out of the FA Cup, we were expecting a quiet few days. Unfortunately, the club has been in the headlines more than ever, and not in the way most fans would want.
In an interview with Sky News at an industrial conference in Antwerp, co-owner and figurehead Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave a view on UK politics and his comments on immigration, most notably his use of the word 'colonised', have sparked a media furore.
Ratcliffe offered an apology for offence caused by his choice of language but there has been a strong response from politicians, fan groups, and others. We consider the ramifications for the club and round up some of the news closer to football matters.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic F.C. |
| 0:18.7 | This is Talk the Devils, the Athletic Show, dedicated to Manchester United. |
| 0:22.7 | No football to talk about, unfortunately, because Manchester United haven't played since our last episode, |
| 0:27.7 | but a big story nevertheless to speak about. |
| 0:30.3 | We're going to react on this episode to the comments of the United owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. |
| 0:34.9 | It's caused so much controversy. |
| 0:36.5 | Obviously, so many people have had |
| 0:37.6 | their say. Fans, politicians, rival managers, even the club themselves releasing a statement. |
| 0:43.4 | So we will assess what's been said and we will assess the impact on Manchester United. |
| 0:48.1 | And also towards the end of the podcast, we'll also have a little roundup of what has been |
| 0:51.6 | going on on the football side of things as well. |
| 0:55.3 | We're back in the studio. |
| 0:58.0 | Laurie and Critch are here with me in Manchester. |
| 0:59.9 | Andy's joining from home as well. |
| 1:06.1 | For anyone who's missed it, and I don't suppose anyone has not seen the comments from Sir Jim Radcliffe, but he gave an interview last Thursday with Sky News where he said that he believed the UK had been colonised |
| 1:13.0 | by immigrants. |
| 1:14.1 | He was speaking at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where he also talked about the political, |
| 1:20.0 | social and economic challenges that he believed the UK is facing at the moment. |
| 1:24.9 | He commented on the number of people who have been claiming benefits, |
| 1:28.2 | which has since been challenged, also the UK population as well. Another thing which has been |
| 1:33.1 | challenged as well, we've had a huge reaction to this. Thank you for everyone for sharing your comments, |
| 1:38.5 | whichever side of this conversation that you are on. The Prime Minister's had to say, |
... |
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