On live TV
Holocaust derailment: fuss about ex-goalkeeper
01/10/2026 – 11:52 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
TV expert Shay Given caused a stir with a strange comparison – and responded to the stir with an announcement.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has publicly apologized after making a statement on the BBC’s Final Score on Saturday. The 49-year-old described coach Wilfried Nancy’s historically short tenure at Celtic in Glasgow as an “absolute holocaust”.
Nancy was released by the traditional club during the week after just eight games and 33 days in the Scottish metropolis. Given said on live TV that Nancy’s term in office was “terrible from start to finish” – and then used the Holocaust comparison.
Given later wrote to And further: “We all have areas in which we lack knowledge, and I hope to use this as an opportunity to become better educated in the future.”
Given further admitted his wrongdoing openly: He was “deeply shocked” at himself and apologized “unreservedly to everyone who was offended.” What’s more: “I will donate my fee for today’s broadcast to the Holocaust Educational Trust.” The Holocaust Educational Trust is dedicated to educating and informing people in Britain about the Holocaust.
Given was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for many years, played for Newcastle United between 1997 and 2009 and played a total of 463 competitive games for the “Magpies”. It wasn’t until 2018 that Given declared the end of his long career at the age of 42. With 134 caps, he is second in the Ireland national team’s all-time rankings.