Wigan owner apologises for saying it's okay to call Chinese 'chinks' and 'Jews chase money'
Dave Whelan accused of anti-Semitism and condoning racism as he tries to defend controversial appointment of Malky Mackay
Dave Whelan, owner of Championship club Wigan Athletic, has apologised after being accused of anti-Semitism and condoning racism for referring to Chinese as “chinks” and saying Jewish people “chase money”.
He had been quoted by the Guardian newspaper on Thursday attempting to defend his hiring of former Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay who is under investigation by the FA for alleged offensive messages he sent while in charge of the Welsh club.
Whelan said one of the messages described Cardiff owner, Malaysian Vincent Tan, as a “chink” while in another Mackay made derogatory remarks about a Jewish football agent.
“If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a ‘chink’ he is lying,” said Whelan. “There is nothing bad about doing that, it is like calling the British ‘Brits’ or the Irish ‘paddies’.
If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a ‘chink’ he is lying
He added: “I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else. I don’t think that’s offensive at all, it’s telling the truth. Jewish people love money, English people love money, we all love money”.