Gary Lineker has hit out at Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the INEOS chief claimed the UK is being “colonised by immigrants”, calling the remarks “incorrect” and branding them “the hypocrisy”.
The former England striker responded after Ratcliffe’s comments sparked backlash, with Lineker taking issue with both the language used and the wider message. Lineker said the description of Britain being “colonised by immigrants” was wrong, and argued it fuelled a harmful narrative around immigration.
Lineker also pointed to what he sees as a contradiction between Ratcliffe’s public stance and the business reality behind INEOS. He highlighted that Ratcliffe is linked to a company structure that includes operations based outside the UK, questioning how that squares with the tone of the immigration comments.
The exchange comes with Ratcliffe now one of the most prominent figures in English football following his investment in Manchester United, meaning his words carry extra weight. Lineker’s criticism underlined that point, insisting that public figures should be careful with how they talk about immigrants and the role they play in British society.
Ratcliffe has been a central voice at Old Trafford since becoming co-owner, but the debate around his immigration comments has shifted attention away from football, with Lineker making clear he believes the phrasing and sentiment were unacceptable.
