I doubt Whelans a racist, at least not in any sense where he would actively discriminate against someone, do or wish harm to them based on their colour or ethnicity and
I expect you are smart enough to realise that.
Sadly there will be some people overtly racist in most football crowds, Latics included, with them being broadly representative of society as a whole. Good people , OK folk, tight ones , generous ones …you know a cross section
I fully expect it’s true of the rugby crowds and of course we know it to be true of Sunderland’s crowds, a small minority of whom amply demonstrated their affection for Darren Bents mother.