Man Utd staff boo Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Europa League loss puts more jobs at risk Manchester United employees expressed their frustration by booing co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during a Europa League final watch along event at Diecast, a Manchester venue, following the team’s defeat to Tottenham. The loss eliminated United from UEFA competitions next season, a significant blow to the club’s financial outlook. Ratcliffe, the INEOS CEO, and Avram Glazer appeared on screen during the trophy presentation, prompting the jeers from staff, who are increasingly discontented with the club’s leadership amid ongoing redundancies. The atmosphere at the event was described as somber, with employees aware that the absence of European football could lead to further job cuts. Earlier this season, CEO Omar Berrada had indicated that a second round of redundancies was planned with the expectation that United would qualify for the Europa League for the next four seasons. The recent defeat has upended those assumptions, raising fears of additional layoffs. Reports noted a sense of gallows humor among staff, with some viewing the loss as a potential death knell for more jobs. Over the past two years, Manchester United has cut approximately 450 jobs, reducing its workforce by over 30 percent. The most recent round in February saw 200 employees, including long serving staff, depart the club. These cost cutting measures, driven by Ratcliffe’s leadership, have fueled resentment among workers, who see the club’s financial struggles and lack of on pitch success as interconnected. The booing incident underscores the growing tension between the club’s management and its employees, as well as the broader challenges facing Manchester United in balancing financial sustainability with competitive aspirations. The absence of European revenue will likely intensify scrutiny on Ratcliffe’s strategy moving forward.
See also: UEFA issue grovelling apology after Tottenham trio miss out on Europa League medals
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