Wigan owner makes controversial comment about Jewish people while defending under-fire coach

Wigan Athletic's new manager Malky Mackay and Chairman Dave Whelan background pause, during a press conference at the DW Stadium, in Wigan, England, Wednesday Nov. 19, 2014. Wigan was condemned by English football's anti-discrimination organization for hiring Malky Mackay as its manager on Wednesday while he is still under investigation for offensive comments. Since August, the English Football Association has been looking into a dossier from Mackay's time as Cardiff manager, including text messages he acknowledged were "completely unacceptable, inappropriate." (AP Photo/PA, Barrington Coombs) UNITED KINGDOM OUT (The Associated Press)

WIGAN, England – The owner of English club Wigan has made controversial comments about Jewish people while defending his decision to hire a coach who is under investigation for sending racist and anti-Semitic messages.

Malky Mackay was hired as Wigan manager on Wednesday even though the English Football Association is looking into a dossier from his time in charge of Cardiff, when he sent offensive text messages to a colleague.

Dave Whelan, who has owned Wigan since 1995, said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper that he did not believe the anti-Semitic and racist texts sent by Mackay were offensive.

Commenting on a text sent by Mackay about Jewish people and money, Whelan says "I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else. I don't think that's offensive at all."