The Football Association has confirmed that Wigan owner Dave Whelan has requested a “non-personal” hearing for his charge of misconduct over remarks he made in the media, including to the Guardian, following his appointment of Malky Mackay as Wigan Athletic manager.
The non-personal hearing means he will present his case in document form but not give evidence in person. The FA will convene an independent disciplinary panel, normally three people chaired by a QC, to hear the case.
Whelan accepted the charge of misconduct on Saturday for his comments about Chinese and Jewish people. The 78-year-old previously told the Guardian that: “Calling a Chinaman a chink is nothing,” and: “I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else … I don’t think that is offensive at all, because they are shrewd people.”
He is understood to have claimed to the FA that he was misquoted.
