Former Republic of Ireland and Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has issued a public apology after using the term 'an absolute Holocaust' during a live BBC football broadcast.
Live Broadcast Blunder
The incident occurred on Saturday 10 January 2026 during the BBC's Final Score programme. Given, a 49-year-old pundit, was analysing the brief and unsuccessful period of French coach Wilfried Nancy at Celtic, which came between two spells by Martin O'Neill.
When asked by host Jason Mohammad for his thoughts on Celtic's situation, Given criticised the decision to not let O'Neill continue through a crucial week of fixtures. He stated: 'Nancy took over that week and had an absolute Holocaust in that week and it was just a nightmare from then on.'
Immediate On-Air Apology and Social Media Statement
Later in the same programme, Mohammad addressed the remark, telling viewers: 'A little earlier you may have heard some inappropriate language so we would like to apologise for any offence caused.'
Given, who won 134 caps for Ireland, subsequently posted a statement on social media. He expressed being 'genuinely mortified' and apologised unreservedly. In his post, Given claimed he did not fully understand the meaning of the word Holocaust, which refers to the genocide of six million Jews 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,' he wrote. 'We all have areas of ignorance in our knowledge and I hope to use this as an opportunity to become better educated.'
As a gesture of contrition, Given pledged to donate his fee from the show to the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Career Context and Public Reaction
Shay Given, who retired from playing in 2017 after a stint at Stoke City, has become a regular pundit for the BBC and TNT Sports. The comment sparked immediate criticism online, with some social media users calling the analogy 'sickening and unforgivable' in the context of football results.
The episode highlights the intense scrutiny and responsibility faced by broadcasters and their analysts during live television, where off-the-cuff remarks can cause serious offence.
