INEOS sack Lausanne-Sport manager Elsner as Ratcliffe moves to sell Swiss club

FC Lausanne-Sport have sacked manager Luka Elsner after five months in charge, with INEOS — the group co-owning Manchester United — simultaneously moving to sell the Swiss club. The parting was confirmed by the club on Tuesday, framed as a mutual agreement following what they described as “lengthy discussions about the current sporting situation.”

Elsner, 44, was appointed on 1 June but departs with Lausanne rooted to the bottom of the Swiss Super League. The club’s statement offered no further detail beyond confirming the end of the collaboration.

The dismissal is the latest sign of INEOS scaling back its sporting portfolio. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group previously ended sponsorship agreements with New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team and Tottenham Hotspur, and the reported decision to sell Lausanne-Sport continues that pattern of divestment.

Separately, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick eased some pressure on himself at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening when United came from two goals down to beat Roma 3–2 in the Champions League, ending a nine-game winless run. Roma had raced into a 2–0 lead inside 17 minutes before United responded in the second half through a Bruno Fernandes penalty and two goals from Matheus Cunha.

Cunha’s evening ended on a sour note, however. He was booked for removing his shirt in celebration of the winner, then received a second yellow card for a late challenge, leaving United to see out the final stages with ten men.

Carrick acknowledged the significance of the result while tempering expectations. “It was a challenging game,” he said. “They’ve only had one defeat all season — they’re a very, very good team. We caused ourselves a few issues. In some ways, understandable with the run we’ve been on, a little bit anxious and a few nerves at times.”

On Cunha’s contribution before his dismissal, Carrick added: “Disappointed with how it finished, but again just shows how much he cares. When he’s in that frame of mind and plays like that, that’s what we want from him.”

The atmosphere inside Old Trafford reflected wider discontent with the club’s ownership. In the 21st minute, supporters threw green and gold balloons onto the pitch and chanted against both Ratcliffe and the Glazer family.