Dave Whelan, owner of the Wigan Athletic Football Club near Manchester told the Guardian that “Jewish people chase money more than everybody else, ” but mind you, he’s not an anti-Semite. At least, that’s what his defenders say. Nevertheless, Whelan didn’t try to deny or defend the remarks during an interview in which he also referred to a Chinese businessman as a “Chink, ” as reported by the Forward.
The topic came up when he was defending criticisms that he named Malky Mackay as club manager, although the British Football Association was investigating allegations that Mackay had regularly made anti-semitic and racist statements through email and text.
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Whelan was fined $78, 000 for the remarks and has been suspended from all football -related activities for 6 weeks. He will also have to attend an educational program. Whelan apologized for his remarks to the BBC. The football association said Whelan was not really a bigot because of his support for certain charities, including a donation of $8, 000 to the Jewish sponsored Brookvale organization for the Mentally Handicapped.
