Former Newcastle and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has “unreservedly” apologized for describing Wilfried Nancy’s time as Celtic manager as an “absolute Holocaust” during BBC’s Final Score.
Nancy was fired by Scottish Premiership side Celtic on Monday after just 33 days and eight games, which included six losses.
Given, who started his professional career with Celtic, was asked on Saturday what he thought of Nancy’s short tenure. He said that it “was terrible from start to finish” before referring to it as an “absolute Holocaust,” invoking the event in which an estimated six million Jews and others were murdered by Nazi Germany during the Second World War between 1939 and 1945.
Final Score presenter Jason Mohammad apologized later in the program for Given’s “inappropriate language.”
Afterward, Given took to X to offer his own apology.
“On live television this afternoon, I used a word that I didn’t fully understand the meaning of, and I certainly wouldn’t 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 everyone offended, and will be donating my fee from today’s show to the Holocaust Educational Trust.”
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.