Sir Jim Ratcliffe was notably absent from the women’s FA Cup final, opting not to attend in support of the Manchester United women’s team, just days after being present in London for a men’s match.
The prominent British businessman has faced criticism for his apparent indifference towards the women’s team after acquiring a 27.7 percent ownership in the club, which subsequently increased to 28.94 percent.
Following his involvement, the Red Devils have experienced harsh leadership and budget reductions, resulting in the exits of club icon Sir Alex Ferguson and Erik ten Hag during the current season.
On Sunday, Marc Skinner’s side took to the Wembley turf to contest the FA Cup final, bidding the retain the trophy and prevent a dominant Chelsea side winning the Treble.
They did so, though, without Ratcliffe present – despite him being in the capital for United’s Premier League game against Chelsea on Friday.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) snubbed Manchester United’s women’s team for the FA Cup final
Holders United took on Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday in a bit to retain the title they won this time last year
Ratcliffe had been in London as recently as Friday to watch United play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League
‘My main focus is on the men’s team because that is what moves the needle at Manchester United,’ said Ratcliffe in an interview with BBC Sport.
‘The women’s team is much smaller that the men’s team. Out of our £650million of income, £640m comes from the men’s team, £10m comes from the women’s team.
‘With my business background you tend to focus on the bigger issues before you focus on the smaller issues.’
It was also revealed that the minority owner asked former club captain Katie Zelem what she did when she gave him a tour of the side’s facilities.
Zelem, like Ratcliffe, was born near Oldham and had been part of the club’s women’s set-up since the age of eight.
Last summer saw the player leave the club to join American side Angel City in Los Angeles.
Similarly damning was insight into his dismissal of Dan Ashworth, who was seen as an ally of the women’s game by Man United players during his brief time at the club.
Those in the set-up were reportedly ‘deflated’ when Ashworth’s shock sacking was announced in December, with Ashworth thought to be ‘very passionate’ about Skinner’s side.
United boss Marc Skinner (pictured) said it was ‘hard’ to see Ratcliffe admit his focus was not on the women’s team
The women’s team were moved away from their facilities to temporary accommodation to make way for the men’s side
They were also said to have been disappointed by the sacking of Dan Ashworth (pictured) earlier this season
Ratcliffe said he had to ‘focus on the bigger issues before you focus on the smaller issues’
Over the summer, the women’s team were moved away from their facilities to temporary accommodation to make way for the men’s side, who were undergoing their own £50million revamp of the training base.
Skinner remarked: ‘It’s hard for me to see those comments but actually that’s not what I see from the working group that is every day with us.’
United forward Elisabeth Terland, meanwhile, had exclusively expressed her desire to win the trophy to Mail Sport.
‘It’s been a good season at a new club,’ she said. ‘It always takes time when you join a new team to build relationships, build connections, and time always helps in that sense.
‘It is a team and a club that really suits me, how I play and what I want to do as well, so it’s a good fit in that way. I’m hungry for more.
‘I want to win things with this team and it means a bit extra playing for a badge that you’ve always supported. I will always do my hundred per cent to be able to do that.’
United, though, lost the game, suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sonia Bompastor’s side.
