Wigan owner charged by English FA over controversial comments about Jewish, Chinese people

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Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, center, gives the thumbs up from the stands ahead of the Sky Bet Championship soccer match at the DW Stadium, Wigan, England, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. The English FA is investigating comments made by Whelan to a national newspaper while he defended his decision to hire Malky Mackay as second-tier Wigan\'s manager, even though Mackay is under investigation for sending racist and anti-Semitic text messages. Dave Whelan tells British broadcaster ITV that "should they even suggest I\'m guilty, I would immediately resign from my position as chairman of Wigan Athletic." (AP Photo/Anna Gowthorpe, PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES

LONDON – The English Football Association has charged the chairman of Wigan for making controversial comments about Jewish and Chinese people in a newspaper interview.

The FA says that Dave Whelan’s remarks “were abusive and/or insulting and/or constitute improper conduct and/or bring the game into disrepute.”

The governing body says it is an “aggravated breach” of FA rules because it referred to “ethnic origin and/or race and/or nationality.”

Whelan made the comments to The Guardian newspaper while defending his decision to hire Malky Mackay as the second-tier club’s manager, even though Mackay is under investigation for sending racist and anti-Semitic text messages.

Whelan has apologized and said he will quit his position if found guilty by the FA.

He has until Dec. 5 to respond to the charge.

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