Monday 15 December 2014 14:33, UK
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has accepted a Football Association misconduct charge over comments he made about Chinese and Jewish people.
The Guardian interviewed Whelan in the wake of his decision to appoint Malky Mackay as the club's new manager, at a time when the Scot was the subject of an investigation into reported racist and anti-Semitic texts sent while he was in charge of Cardiff.
The newspaper claims he made a string of derogotary comments towards Chinese and Jewish people.
Whelan was charged with improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute for the comments made shortly after Malky Mackay became Wigan’s new manager.
The FA said in a statement released on Monday: "We can confirm Mr Whelan has accepted the charge and has requested a non-personal hearing but no date has been set for that."
Mr Whelan has accepted the charge and has requested a non-personal hearing but no date has been set
Mackay is under investigation for sending racist and anti-Semitic text messages and Whelan made the comments while attempting to defend his new appointment.
The 78-year-old originally threatened to resign as chairman of the Latics if found guilty of racism by English football’s governing body but has now changed his stance.
Although he accepts the charge and apologised for the comments, Whelan maintains he was misquoted and misrepresented in the interview.
