BBC forced to apologise as pundit makes ‘Holocaust’ comment on live TV | Football | Sport
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has taken to social media to issue an apology after being condemned by viewers for describing Wilfried Nancy’s managerial stint at Celtic as ‘an absolute Holocaust’, live on the BBC. The offensive comments from the 49-year-old came on Saturday’s edition of ‘Final Score’ whereby the ex-Republic of Ireland international was part of the punditry panel.
Nancy’s unsuccessful tenure at Celtic came to an end after just 33 days and Given compared it to The Holocaust – the genocide of six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and collaborators during World War II. BBC Sport presenter, Jason Mohammed, apologised for Given’s choice of words.
Final Score host, Mohammad, initially asked: “What have you made of what’s gone on at Celtic, Wilfied Nancy going after the defeat against Rangers, awful in the second half?”
To which Given replied: “Nancy was terrible from start to finish, I don’t think they should have ended Martin’s (O’Neill’s) short tenure at the start. It was the week leading up to the Hearts game, top of the league clash, then Roma in the Europa League and St Mirren in the League Cup final, I thought Martin should have been given that week at least.
“Nancy took over that week and had an absolute Holocaust in that week, and it was just a nightmare from then on, the defeats and Rangers last weekend was the final straw, final nail in the coffin.”
Mohammed would apologise at the end of the programme, as he said: “A little earlier, you may have heard some inappropriate language, so we would like to apologise for any offence caused.”
Given then himself took to social media to apologise, adding: “On live television this afternoon, I used a word that I didn’t fully understand the meaning of, and certainly won’t ever use again. We all have areas of ignorance in our knowledge, and I hope to use this as an opportunity to become better educated going forward.
“I am genuinely mortified and apologise unreservedly to everyone offended, and will be donating my fee from today’s show to the Holocaust Educational Trust.”
