Shay Given posts statement after shocking ‘Holocaust’ comment live on BBC | Football

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

The former Newcastle, Manchester City and Ireland goalkeeper was commenting on the woeful eight-game reign of the Frenchman in Glasgow, sandwiched between two Martin O’Neill stints in charge.

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?’

The 49-year-old said: ‘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.’

Mohammad said later in the programme: ‘A little earlier you may have heard some inappropriate language so we would like to apologise for any offence caused.’

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Given has since posted on social media, apologising for the comment and saying that he did not realise the meaning of the word Holocaust.

Of course it means the genocide of six million Jews carried out by Nazi Germany during World War II.

‘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,’ Given wrote.

‘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 anyone offended and will be donating my fee from today’s show to Holocaust Educational Trust.’

Given retired from football in 2017 after a stint at Stoke, having won 134 caps for his country.

He now is a regular face on the BBC and TNT Sports in punditry roles.

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