Why is Sir Jim Ratcliffe selling Lausanne-Sport?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company, INEOS, has put FC Lausanne-Sport up for sale using the consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal. This move follows a period of struggle for the club and coincides with significant fan unrest and poor form at Manchester United.
What happened
- 2017
INEOS purchases FC Lausanne-Sport, starting its sporting portfolio [1].
- 2023
Ratcliffe acquires a minority stake in Manchester United [1].
- Earlier
INEOS explores the sale of OGC Nice [2].
- Oct 2026
Reports emerge that INEOS is selling Lausanne-Sport via 'Project Striker' [2].
What you need to know
The club currently sits at the bottom of the Swiss Super League [1, 2].
INEOS has shared a sales prospectus with potential buyers [1].
The company may be trying to focus its resources almost entirely on Manchester United [2].
Ratcliffe previously stated a goal for 2026 to reduce costs and manage businesses more carefully [2].
It is not confirmed if a buyer has been found or if OGC Nice will definitely be sold.
Background
INEOS owns a variety of sporting interests, including the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team and a stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team [1].
The company's football ventures have faced difficulties; Lausanne-Sport has been relegated three times since 2014, and OGC Nice narrowly avoided relegation last season [2].
At Manchester United, INEOS manages football operations, but the club is currently struggling in the Premier League, leading to protests against ownership [1, 2].
Questions people ask
Who is managing the sale of Lausanne-Sport?
The global consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal has been hired to facilitate the process [1, 2].
How is Manchester United performing under INEOS?
The team is currently 16th in the Premier League and has gone eight matches without a win [1, 2].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.