Whelan was being interviewed by the newspaper about the appointment of Wigan's new manager, Malky Mackay, 42.

Mackay was embroiled in a scandal over racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic and sexist texts sent between himself and Ian Moody whilst they both worked at Cardiff City.

Both Mackay and Moody had left Cardiff by the time the texts were exposed, with Moody having to resign his current post at Crystal Palace.

Mackay and Moody are both still under investigation from the FA over the texts, with no date confirmed for when that decision will be reached.

But Mackay was brought back into management this week at Wigan to replace the sacked Uwe Rosler, and it is when trying to defend his new employee that Whelan is believed to have made the comments.

The interview alleged that he accused the Jewish people of 'chasing money more than anybody else' in relation to a text supposedly sent by Mackay about a Jewish football agent.

He also made reference to the word 'chink' which is a derogatory term used to describe not only Chinese people but other people from Asian backgrounds. 

The interview read that Whelan had said that 'if an Englishman has never called a Chinaman a 'chink', he's lying'.

The comments have caused serious concern for anti-racism groups such as Kick It Out, with some calling for Whelan to be removed as chairman of the club.