SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’s other club played in front of a record LOW crowd in their final Europa League group match.
French outfit Nice welcomed Bodo/Glimt to the Allianz Riviera on Thursday night for what proved to be the final match of their European campaign this season.
AFPNice welcomed Bodo/Glimt to the Allianz Riviera for their final Europa League group match[/caption]
AFPThe match was played in front of a record-low crowd at the stadium[/caption]
APThe French outfit are owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s billion-pound Ineos company[/caption]
Les Aiglons’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages had long gone up in smoke and they went into the match second-bottom of the 36-man table.
Scores of fans opted not to attend Thursday’s academic match against Bodo, which led to a record-low attendance.
A mere 4,272 supporters were in attendance for the 1-1 draw.
And 800 of the fans in attendance were Bodo supporters who had made the long journey from Norway.
Nice boss Franck Haise said: “I think we’ll have fewer people at the stadium than against OM.
“That’s all I’ll say. We have to be worthy of the competition.
“And then there’s an interest for those who are going to play and prove that they can perform.”
The midweek attendance figure was a stark contrast to the number of supporters who packed the Allianz for Nice’s clash with Olympique Marseille last weekend.
Just over 31,000 fans were in attendance to watch Haise’s men record a 2-0 victory over the visitors.
Nice fans have largely spoken positively about Ratcliffe since his company, INEOS, took ownership of the club in 2019.
But the same can’t be said of Manchester United supporters, who have been irked by a number of the billionaire’s decisions since he became a shareholder in December 2023.
Ratcliffe drew the ire of the Old Trafford faithful by laying off 250 staff members last July and then asking club legend Sir Alex Ferguson to step down from his ambassador role the following October.
But his decision to raise ticket prices to £66 per game and axe concessionary pricing for children and seniors has really enraged fans.
And supporters vocalised their anger during the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend.
Sections of the travelling fans were heard chanting: “Jim Ratcliffe’s a c**t, Jim Ratcliffe’s a c**t.
“Just like the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe’s a c**t.”
United will be back in action on Sunday, welcoming Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.
PASir Jim Ratcliffe has drawn the ire of Red Devils fans by increasing ticket prices[/caption]
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