Ratcliffe puts Lausanne-Sport up for sale as INEOS retreats from sports empire

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has placed Lausanne-Sport on the market, with consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal tasked with finding a buyer for the Swiss Super League club that sits bottom of the table after five consecutive league defeats.

The move, first reported by The Athletic, marks the latest step in INEOS’ broad retreat from sports investment. A five-page prospectus has been circulated to potential buyers describing Lausanne as having “a unique infrastructure set-up” and “an asset-light model”, and billing them as “an established top-flight contender” — despite the club having been relegated twice under INEOS ownership. Lausanne are projected to post a loss of around £5 million this year and own neither their stadium nor their training ground.

Lausanne-Sport was Ratcliffe’s first foray into football when he acquired the club in November 2017, shortly after INEOS established its global headquarters in the Swiss city. It has since become one of several sporting assets the petrochemicals billionaire is looking to offload.

INEOS also owns French club OGC Nice, which the company has been attempting to sell for several years without success. The original asking price of €250 million (approximately £209.5 million) has already been reduced as Nice have struggled on the pitch since INEOS’ 2019 takeover. The company also holds a one-third stake in the Mercedes Formula 1 team, a commitment that appears to remain intact for now.

The pattern of divestment has accelerated in recent months. In January 2025, INEOS controversially cut funding to Sir Ben Ainslie’s sailing team ahead of the America’s Cup, triggering a public dispute. Sponsorship arrangements with New Zealand Rugby and Tottenham Hotspur were also ended, further signalling a contraction of the group’s sporting footprint.

At Manchester United, where Ratcliffe took sporting control from the Glazer family in December 2023, the INEOS cost-cutting drive has been equally visible. Hundreds of staff have lost their jobs at Old Trafford, and a range of staff benefits have been removed — decisions that have drawn sustained criticism from supporters and pundits alike.

Whether Lausanne will attract serious interest remains uncertain. The club’s relegation history, lack of owned infrastructure, and projected losses present a challenging sales pitch, even with seven Swiss league titles and nine Swiss Cup wins on their record.