According to 90min, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sparked frustration among Premier League fans with recent remarks regarding the influence of top clubs in the league.
In a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Ratcliffe discussed various topics, including his plans for Manchester United and his views on UK elections. When asked about whether United receive fair treatment as one of the biggest clubs in the league, Ratcliffe suggested that the so-called big six clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur - should have a stronger voice compared to the other 14 teams.
"I don't think I have enough experience in understanding quite how Premier League works yet," Ratcliffe commented. "I mean, I think everybody has an equal vote and there used to be, I believe, as was explained to me, there used to be a sort of coalition of the six major clubs who would have a certain level of influence in the Premiership. But that broke down after the European Super Club initiative."
"And I think they need to be careful that the top six clubs are not disadvantaged because they don't sort of get a reasonably strong say in the committee. Because at the end of the day it’s those top six or seven clubs that drive the Premiership, and that’s what the world’s interested in."
Ratcliffe's views were met with criticism on social media, with many fans expressing displeasure over his stance on the league's governance and the perceived entitlement of the top clubs.
Ratcliffe also criticized the Premier League's proposal to trial an "anchoring" system aimed at curbing excessive spending by tying expenditure limits to television income. He argued against measures that could hinder the ability of top clubs to compete with elite European teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and PSG.
"There was all this conversation about anchoring. What would anchoring do? That would inhibit the top clubs in the Premiership," Ratcliffe asserted. "If it does [stop Premier League clubs from competing], it ceases to be the best league in the world."
The billionaire owner also voiced concerns about potential government regulation in football, suggesting interference could undermine the league's competitiveness and global appeal.
In response to Ratcliffe's remarks, some fans took to social media to humorously remind him that the league is now officially known as the Premier League, not the Premiership, since 2007.