Kelly Simmons, the former director of the women’s professional game in England, has attacked Sir Jim Ratcliffe over his remarks about Manchester United’s women’s team, arguing they are “sending a signal … about what he thinks about women, not just the women’s game”.
Simmons, one of the most respected voices in women’s football, made the criticisms as she outlined what she saw as a general reluctance within established clubs to invest in the women’s game. Ratcliffe has previously said he saw United’s men’s team as “the main issue” and “what moves the needle” at the club. He was not at Wembley when Manchester United lost to Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final two weeks ago, nor when they won last year’s final against Tottenham.
“If I was a woman working in United and heard the language Ratcliffe uses, he’s sending a signal to me about what he thinks about women not just the women’s game,” she said. “I’m not sure people recognise how powerful that language is in a negative way. It’s so disappointing.”
Simmons was speaking at the Fair Game conference in London, where financial sustainability and issues around equality and inclusion within football were discussed. Simmons oversaw the professionalisation of the Women’s Super League a decade ago and argued the further growth of women’s football was being stymied by a lack of investment at club level.
“We are not there as a sustainable sport,” Simmons said, likening the current situation to that during the half-century when the Football Association banned women from playing the game in England between 1921 and 1970. “This is a second ban where clubs are treating the women’s teams as a community endeavour, not treating it as a startup, not investing in it.
“ Absolutely nothing is locked in for women’s football. We’re not in the conversation for funding flows. If you are going to scrutinise clubs to see that finances are robust, then you need to look at the women’s game because you know where the money is going to be cut from first; it’s the women’s team.”
Simmons said there was growing interest from private equity groups in investing in the women’s game and that she welcomed the prospect. “A number of clubs in this country and on the continent and Europe are in discussions with private equity,” she said. “It will bring in a mindset of treating women’s football like a business and that is much needed.”
While Ratcliffe was not present for the FA Cup final, where United lost 3-0 to Chelsea, the club did send a senior delegation that included co-chair Avram Glazer, as well as representatives from Ineos, Ratcliffe’s conglomerate. The United chief executive, Omar Berrada, meanwhile, has made public remarks saying the club are “very proud” of the women’s team and arguing: “It’s really incumbent on us to be there to help them.”
Ratcliffe has also spoken of his desire to see the women’s team succeed. “The women’s team wear the Manchester United brand and the Manchester United logo, so in that sense they’re every bit as important as the men’s team and frankly they’re doing better than the men’s team,” he said.
