Wigan owner Dave Whelan accused of anti-Semitism

Wigan owner Dave Whelan, right, defended his decision to appoint Malky Mackay as manager. Picture: PA

Mackay, named new Latics boss on Wednesday, is the subject of an ongoing Football Association investigation into racist, sexist and homophobic text messages sent during his time as Cardiff manager.

Whelan has now claimed there was little offensive in some of Mackay’s texts, most notably those referring to Jews and Chinese people. The development comes soon after one of Wigan’s shirt sponsors, kitchen firm Premier Range, announced it was severing its ties with the club following Mackay’s appointment.

Whelan made his comments in an interview with The Guardian newspaper in which he defended his decision to appoint Mackay. Whelan has said “he would never entertain racism of any description” but has expressed belief Mackay’s errors were “one slight mistake”.

Whelan was not condemnatory when asked about some of the specific texts, including one which referred to Jewish football agent Phil Smith with the words “Nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers.”

Whelan reportedly said of that: “I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else. I don’t think that’s offensive at all.”

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In response, Simon Johnson, a former FA and Premier League executive, who is now the chief executive at the Jewish Leadership Council, told the newspaper: “Unfortunately, Mr Mackay and now Mr Whelan have referred to some of the worst old-fashioned tropes which have been used in the past as the basis of anti-Semitism and stereotyping of Jewish people.

“Mackay used offensive language to insult a fellow participant in football using a tawdry racial stereotype.” In another text message, Mackay referred to Cardiff’s Malaysian owner Vincent Tan as a “c***k.”

Asked about that, Whelan said: “If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a c***k he is lying. There is nothing bad about doing that. It is like calling the British Brits, or the Irish paddies.”

Mackay, 42, was sacked by Cardiff last December after falling out with Tan. The offensive texts that he sent, all to Cardiff’s former head of recruitment Iain Moody, came to light in August after an investigation by the Welsh club. The furore caused by them cost Mackay the chance of being appointed Crystal Palace manager.

Last week Wigan MP Lisa Nandy wrote to Whelan urging him not to appoint Mackay when it became apparent the Scot was a candidate for the vacancy at the DW Stadium.

Whelan acknowledged concerns but pressed ahead with the appointment, prompting a strong response from anti-discriminatory group Kick It Out.

That has been followed by the decision of Premier Range, who sponsor the back of Wigan’s shirts, to sever ties with the Sky Bet Championship club.

A statement from the company, which only entered its agreement with Wigan in the summer, read: “It is with great sorrow that we have to announce we are breaking our ties with Wigan Athletic FC. Unfortunately, their recent appointment of Malky Mackay has put us in a position that we find untenable.

“The texts Mr Mackay has admitted to sending are wholly unacceptable – and the thoughts expressed within them are a shocking reminder of a past we thought football had left behind.

“A team that would employ a man who expresses views such these is not the kind of team Premier Range wish to deal with.”

Whelan also told The Guardian he had been told by senior figures that “nothing will come” of the FA’s investigation.

That drew a robust defence from the governing body, who issued a statement saying that no decision had been taken about the outcome of the investigation.

It read: “We wish to make it clear the FA investigation into the conduct of Malky Mackay and Iain Moody remains ongoing and no assurances have been given by the FA as to the outcome of this case.”

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