Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire co-owner of Manchester United, has sparked widespread outrage for claiming the UK has been “colonized by immigrants,” with club supporters condemning his language as dangerous and divisive and the prime minister demanding an apology.

Ratcliffe, who founded petrochemical company Ineos and is one of Britain’s richest men, apologized in a statement on Thursday for his “choice of language” – but only after a storm of outrage that drew in senior politicians and football fans alike.

“I don’t think the (British) economy is in a good place,” Ratcliffe told Sky News on Wednesday. “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonized. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonized by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”

He cited incorrect population figures, claiming the UK’s population had risen from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million people today. In reality, the UK’s population has increased from 67 million in 2020 to 69.5 million people, according to estimates by the Office for National Statistics.

Ratcliffe’s remarks prompted widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who called on him to apologize, saying his comments were “offensive and wrong” and that “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country.”

The Football Association, soccer’s governing body, will examine whether his comments brought the game into disrepute, according to PA.

Ratcliffe said he was sorry that his choice of language had offended people, but added that “it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.”