Dave Whelan, the Wigan Athletic owner who was yesterday labelled "a racist" by Cardiff chairman Vincent Tan, faces the prospect of a lengthy Football Association ban.

Whelan's comments about Jewish and Chinese people, made in a newspaper interview in which he was defending his decision to hire former Cardiff manager Mackay, have led to a widespread backlash.

Mackay was hired despite being under investigation for allegedly sending racist and anti-semitic texts, but Whelan responded to criticism by telling The Guardian: "I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else."

The 77-year-old also told the newspaper he did not view the word "chink" as offensive, and said that he had been told by senior figures that "nothing will come" of the FA's investigation into Mackay.

Malaysian businessman Tan, who sacked Mackay in December, reacted angrily to the latest development, saying: "This is a racist chairman hiring a racist manager. I think he insulted the dignity of all Jewish people. I think he insulted the dignity of Chinese."

Whelan later apologised, but the FA says its investigation into his comments will be treated "as a priority". English football's governing body has written to Whelan, giving him three days to respond. Earlier this week, the FA upheld a four-month ban on a county FA official for using overtly sexist language.

Wigan said the club would not comment in response to Tan's remarks, but both Whelan and Mackay have denied being racist.

The Wigan owner said: "I would never, ever insult a Jewish person. I have got hundreds and hundreds of Jewish friends. I would never upset [Jewish people] because I hold them in the highest regard.

"The Chinese community - again, I've got loads of Chinese friends. I would never insult the Chinese. I know Malky Mackay insulted them and they take that name seriously. He apologised to them and I hope they accept that.

"If anyone takes offence to anything I have said, please accept my sincere apology."

Whelan faces a critical situation at Wigan after two sponsors, kitchen firm Premier Range and sports drink company iPro Sport, announced they are to terminate their deals with the club due to the appointment of Mackay.

The Scot is himself the subject of an FA investigation for sending allegedly racist text messages to Iain Moody, his former head of recruitment at Cardiff.

Meanwhile, the main representative body of British Jews called Whelan's comments "outrageous" and said that his apology is "half-hearted".

The Board of Deputies of British Jews' vice-president Jonathan Arkush said in a statement: "His half-hearted apology does not go far enough. You cannot insult a whole group of people, and then say, 'I would never insult them', and hope that's okay.

"We need to see a proper apology and full recognition of the offence caused. Whelan, in his role as chair of a football club, has a responsibility to set the tone for both his players and supporters. Racism and anti- Semitism will prevail on and off the pitch if it's acceptable and unchallenged in the boardroom.

"We will be taking up the matter with the Football Association and Kick It Out."