London, Nov 22 (IANS): English football club Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has accused Wigan counterpart Dave Whelan and newly-appointed manager Malky Mackay of being racists.
The Malaysian businessman, who is a Chinese, criticised Whelan for using derogatory comments about Jews and the word "chink" in an interview with a national newspaper, reports Xinhua.
Whelan has denied being racist, but Tan said in an interview with the BBC: "I think he insulted the dignity of all Jewish people. I think he insulted the dignity of Chinese."
He also criticised Mackay, who was sacked by him last season but was appointed as Wigan boss this week.
The Scot is still under investigation by the Football Association (FA) following allegations he made racist, sexist and homophobic comments in text messages and emails sent while he was in charge of Cardiff.
"This is a racist chairman hiring a racist manager," Tan said.
"I hope that stops at two racists in Wigan, not snowballing to 2,000 or 20,000 racists in Wigan."
Tan also said there are more revelations to come surrounding Mackay's time at Cardiff.
"Whelan and Wigan do not know yet what more is coming for this man they have just hired," he said.
"They will, I believe, regret hiring him. The fact is he's a leader of a big football club, he's sending the wrong message to the followers and supporters in the club, he's telling them it's all right to be a racist," he said.
"Do you think that is proper? So I am asking whether he is fit and proper to be chairman of a football club in the U.K. for what he has said. I think the FA should take action, but I'll leave it to the FA."
"I think the world is watching what the FA will do. Will it be a regulator on football matters with teeth or a toothless regulator?," added Tan.
The 77-year-old Whelan used the word "chink" in his interview with an English newspaper Thursday and also said that "Jewish people chase money more than everybody else".
Whelan later apologised for his remarks but insisted he was misquoted and did not intend any racial slight.
The FA issued a statement Friday saying it had opened an investigation into Whelan's comments.