INEOS has put one of Manchester United's sister clubs up for sale as their sporting investments continue to struggle. The company, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, bought Swiss Super League side FC Lausanne-Sport in 2017, marking the birth of their sporting empire, but reports from The Athletic say they have now put the club up for sale less than a decade later.
Sale process underway
INEOS has hired a consultancy firm, Alvarez & Marsal, to facilitate the sale and sent a prospectus to potential buyers. The prospectus touts the club's ability to easily qualify for European competition, which they have only done once under INEOS ownership.
The club has struggled under INEOS and sit dead last after 11 matches this season. The move comes amid a period of turmoil for Manchester United, where the club's appalling form and eight-match winless run has left head coach Michael Carrick on the brink of the sack.
Fan protests at Old Trafford
Many supporters have directed their ire at the club's ownership for a period of mismanagement which has featured a string of expensive, misguided transfers. Ratcliffe bought just under 30 per cent of the club in 2023 from the Glazer family, but has not been able to escape the anti-ownership protests which have dogged the Americans since they bought into the club.
On Sunday, during United's most recent match, fans at Old Trafford implored INEOS in a chant to “sell United and f*** off home.” United faced Lausanne-Sport in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the September/October international break and won 2-1.
