The chairman of Kick It Out, an organisation campaigning for equality in football, has commented on the ongoing controversy surrounding Wigan Athletic duo Malky Mackay and Dave Whelan, BT Sport report.

Whelan has been criticised recently
Whelan has been criticised recently

Lord Ouseley, who founded the anti-racism organisation in 1993, believes that the cases of both men must be handled with consistency by the FA, who are currently investigating the pair.

Mackay is under scrutiny because of allegedly discriminative texts he sent whilst employed by Cardiff City, whilst Wigan Athletic chairman Whelan is being investigated over allegedly racist remarks he made in defence of Mackay - who he employed earlier this week.

Although the FA have promised to handle Whelan's comments as a 'priority', Mackay's case has stretched almost a year due to his comments having been made in private, thus complicating legal proceedings.

Lord Ouseley, quoted here by BT Sport as he spoke BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek program, believes the FA must be careful as they investigate the pair: "I think the Football Association has to clarify how it's going to deal with private texts that reveal information.

"If a text revealed something that could be affecting how we deal with the safety of youngsters in football, or indeed it may reveal something to do with, say, match-fixing, would they say, 'because it's private we can't touch it'? I would hope not.

"They're not saying that (in this case) but they're very reluctant to come out decisively and say what their position is. They're in a very difficult position but they've got to resolve that, it's very important that they do so.

"You have to be consistent and if information comes out that's going to affect the credibility of the game, they can't ignore it.

"If you are a leader and you do something, however private, if it gets out into the open and it affects and throws up questions about how your attitude - as reflected in the views you're expressing privately - may affect how you deal with people from different backgrounds, you cannot ignore that."

Whelan was the subject of a statement issued by the FA on Friday, and has two working days left to respond. The ex-player has said he'll leave his post as Wigan Athletic chairman if he is found guilty.