Ratcliffe move over Europa League final sparks more Man Utd fans anger

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has drawn criticism from within Manchester United after deciding not to provide free Europa League final tickets to club staff, continuing a series of stringent cost-cutting measures since his arrival.

United are set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao later this month, with around 15,000 tickets allocated to the club for the May 21 showdown.

Unlike Tottenham, who have opted to give every full-time employee a free ticket to the final-potentially benefiting up to 700 staff-Manchester United will instead hold a draw for a limited number of tickets for their employees.

Most staff will instead be invited, along with a guest, to a local screening of the match. According to reports, staff attending the screening will receive two free drinks, but their guests will need to pay for their own.

This approach has sparked frustration, especially when compared to previous club practices. In the past, United covered the costs of flights, accommodation, and meals for staff attending the last three Champions League finals the club reached.

For the 2017 Europa League final, United received just 10,000 tickets and organised a Manchester event with free drinks and entertainment, although this was cancelled following the Manchester Arena attack.

Since Ratcliffe and INEOS took over, two rounds of redundancies have taken place at Old Trafford as part of efforts to reduce expenses and redirect more revenue towards the team.

Staff have also seen other perks removed, including the cancellation of the Christmas party.

The contrast with other European clubs is stark. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, for example, is paying for 600 staff members to travel to the Champions League final, and Inter Milan are also offering free tickets to their employees for their final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Within Old Trafford, there is a growing feeling that the club is prioritising fans over staff as tickets for the final are in high demand.

This latest decision adds to the sense of discontent among United employees, who have already experienced significant changes to workplace culture and benefits under Ratcliffe’s ownership