Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given faced backlash from viewers after making an inappropriate comment during a live broadcast on the BBC. Given described Wilfried Nancy’s short-lived managerial role at Celtic as “an absolute Holocaust,” sparking widespread criticism.

The controversial remark came during Given’s appearance as a pundit on the BBC’s Final Score program on Saturday. Nancy’s brief and unsuccessful period at Celtic lasted only 33 days before he was dismissed, prompting Given to use the term, which refers to the horrific genocide of six million European Jews during World War II by Nazi Germany and its allies.

Although presenter Jason Mohammad did not address Given’s choice of words immediately, he later issued an apology during the broadcast for the offensive language.

Following the incident, Shay Given took to social media to express his regret, admitting he was unaware of the word’s significance. He also announced his decision to donate his fee from the broadcast to the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Given, himself, has since taken to social media to say he didn’t understand the meaning of ‘Holocaust’ and that he would be donating his television fee to the Holocaust Educational Trust’.

It happened when Mohammed asked Given: ‘What have you made of what’s gone on at Celtic, Wilfied Nancy going after the defeat against Rangers, awful in the second half?

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.’

Shay Given described Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic tenure as ‘an absolute Holocaust’ live on TV (pictured above on Final Score on Saturday when using the word)

Towards the end of the show, Mohammad then said: ‘A little earlier you may have heard some inappropriate language so we would like to apologise for any offence caused.’

Given wrote: ‘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.’ 

Plenty of viewers were astonished by Given’s use of the word in describing the ultimately trivial topic of a manager’s reign. 

One wrote on X: ‘RIP Shay Given career. Given has just said Celtic “had an absolute Holocaust” on BBC Final Score.’

Another said: ‘Shay Given just said that Wilfried Nancy had a ‘Holocaust’ of a week when he took the job. I’m not sure that’s what he meant to say.’

A third was slightly more forgiving, writing to the BBC Sport account: ‘Shay Given just apologise and withdraw what he said and just own it. 

‘I’m sure he didn’t mean to say Holocaust in reference to Celtic’s season.’

Given is widely regarded as one of the greatest Irish goalkeepers of all time and enjoyed a stellar playing career for the likes of Newcastle, Manchester City and Aston Villa.  

Given is not the first footballer to cause offence by using the word while speaking about the sport. 

Presenter Jason Mohammad (above) later apologised for any offence caused 

Joey Barton used it in relation to a poor Bristol Rovers performance during his time as manager of the club. 

He said: ‘Someone gets in and does well but then gets suspended or injured. Someone gets in for a game, does well but then has a Holocaust, a nightmare, an absolute disaster.’

Barton later apologised, saying: ‘There were some comments made after the press conference last week where clearly no offence was meant, but some people have rightly pointed out to me the use of the analogy was not correct.

‘The FA wrote to me this week to remind us of our language and communications, and the last thing you want to do is cause offence or upset anybody.’

Former West Ham and England striker Carlton Cole also used the word on radio in 2021, speaking about the team David Moyes had picked for the Hammers to face Man City. 

He said: ‘You can say he has gone a bit negative. Why not? You’ve got to give Man City some respect otherwise you’re going to get picked off. Otherwise it will be a Holocaust and you don’t want that.’

Later during the programme, Cole said: ‘I’d just like to apologise to the listeners for a totally unacceptable phrase that I used earlier in the show. I’m sorry if I’ve offended anybody, really and truly. Sorry.’