Shay Given Apologises Over ‘Holocaust’ Comment Live On BBC

Shay Given has apologised after describing Wilfried Nancy’s spell in charge of Celtic as ‘an absolute Holocaust’ live on the BBC’s Final Score on Saturday.

The former Newcastle, Manchester City and Ireland goalkeeper was trying to make the point that the Frenchman’s 8-game run in charge of Celtic was a complete disaster, but probably could have chosen his words more carefully.

Host Jason Mohammad asked Given: ‘What have you made of what’s gone on at Celtic, Wilfried Nancy going after the defeat against Rangers, awful in the second half?’

Given, 49, responded: ‘Nancy was terrible from start to finish, I don’t think they should have ended Martin’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.’

I guess what he wanted to say was ‘an absolute horror show’, but for whatever reason, ‘Holocaust’ came out instead which is about a 10 on the hyperbole scale. Fair enough, really. God knows what I’d come out with if I had to ramble on about football on a scores show for hours on end.

Given has since issued the following apology and (wisely) turned off comments underneath the post on X:

Well, not entirely sure he needed to go as far as donating his fee to the Holocaust Educational Trust, but I’m sure that anyone who was offended will feel like it’s a nice gesture. Onwards and upwards, Shay!

For the time Kanye West suggested that Jewish people ‘forgive Hitler and let it go’, click HERE. Where is Ye these days, anyway?