The Ricketts are aware of the backlash and the campaign against their family to seal a takeover of Chelsea, according to reports.
After racist emails from 2019 emerged following scrutiny of their bid for the European and World Champions, supporters expressed their contempt for any bids for the Ricketts club.
They own the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which also came under heavy criticism after the team that won the World Series was stripped and sold as it cut costs from the team.
Joe Ricketts, the father of the family, allegedly wrote an anti-Muslim email in 2012, writing: “Christians and Jews can have mutual respect to create a civil society”, as reported by shine.
“As you know, Islam cannot do that. Therefore, we can never let Islam become a big part of our society. Muslims are naturally my (our) enemy because of their deep antagonism and of their prejudice against non-Muslims.”
Joe wrote an apology on his personal websiteanswering: “I deeply regret and apologize for some of the exchanges I had in my emails. Sometimes I received emails that I should have condemned. Other times I said things that don’t reflect my value system. I strongly believe bigoted ideas are wrong.”
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Chelsea fans are strongly opposed to the Ricketts takeover at Stamford Bridge and launched a #NoToRicketts campaign on Tuesday.
He’s trending on Twitter and according to the Telegraphthe Ricketts camp would know about the campaign.
Another backlash also came from Paul Canoville, a former Chelsea player who suffered racist abuse from his own supporters during his time at the club.
He wrote on Twitter: “So I’ve seen and heard enough. I support the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust and say a big anti-racist NO to the Ricketts bid!! Please can you even stop mentioning it.”
The shortlist has yet to be announced, with the Ricketts family confident of making the final four. However, the latest response and the backlash could put their bid in serious jeopardy as Raine, Chelsea and the government are more than likely to resume this campaign.
They wish to meet the Supporters’ Trust and the landowners if they are pre-selected. Now it’s a waiting game for Raine to confirm whether or not they made the cut.
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