Manchester United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly not be handing staff free tickets to the Europa League final. The Red Devils booked their place in the showpiece match after getting the better of Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals.

United have endured a tough season on the pitch and have won just 10 of their 35 Premier League matches. But the north west giants have put together a superb run in Europe under Ruben Amorim and thrashed Bilbao 4-1 in the second leg of their semi at Old Trafford on Thursday night following a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Spain a week earlier. Amorim’s side will take on Tottenham in the final on Wednesday, May 21, with the match set to be played at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

United and Tottenham have each been given an allocation of around 15,000 tickets for the Europa League final. But, according to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are prioritising supporters over staff as tickets are in high demand.

Instead of giving staff freebies to the showpiece match, United chiefs will keep a small number of tickets back and hold a ballot for their employees.

The club will also host a screening of the encounter in Manchester for staff and open up the invitation to plus-ones. Workers will be given two free drinks at the screening, while plus-ones will have to pay for theirs.

The situation over tickets is said to have triggered anger among some, but a United source has maintained that the ‘overwhelming priority is maximising the number of tickets for fans.’

Ratcliffe has implemented a host of cost-cutting initiatives since buying up his stake in United.

The club had a workforce of around 1,140 when Ratcliffe arrived in February 2024 but have already overseen two rounds of redundancies. The redundancy process is ongoing, with the total number of job losses set to rise to 450 by the time it ends.

And those inside United are said to be fearful that the cuts are “in danger of tearing the heart and soul out of the club.”

Tottenham, meanwhile, have decided to give each full-time staff member one complimentary ticket to the Europa League final. The offer is believed to have been made to around 700 employees.

United have been made the slight favourites to lift the trophy ahead of the showpiece match after previously winning the competition under Jose Mourinho in 2017.

The Red Devils’ most recent trophy came just under a year ago when they overcame Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Spurs, on the other hand, haven’t won a trophy since landing the League Cup in 2008.