Saturday’s football coverage took an unexpected and uncomfortable turn when a routine discussion about Celtic’s managerial troubles suddenly became the centre of national outrage.
What should have been another standard punditry exchange instead sparked widespread criticism, disbelief, and a rapid apology after language used on air crossed a deeply sensitive line.
Shay Given’s Comment Sparks Immediate Backlash
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given, appearing as a pundit on BBC’s Final Score, came under fire after describing Wilfried Nancy’s short and unsuccessful spell at Celtic using an extremely offensive term.
The remark, broadcast live, shocked viewers who quickly took to social media to condemn the language as inappropriate and deeply hurtful.
Given’s choice of words was especially jarring because it referred to one of history’s gravest atrocities while discussing what many saw as a relatively minor footballing issue.
How the Comment Came About During the Discussion
The incident occurred when presenter Jason Mohammad asked Given to assess what had gone wrong at Celtic following a heavy defeat to Rangers and the subsequent departure of Wilfried Nancy.
Given responded with a blunt assessment of Nancy’s time in charge, criticising the decision to replace Martin O’Neill when the club faced a crucial run of fixtures.
In attempting to describe how badly that period unfolded, Given used a term associated with the genocide of six million Jews during World War II, framing Nancy’s week in charge as an unmitigated disaster.
The analogy immediately stood out for all the wrong reasons.
BBC Response and On-Air Apology
At the time, the conversation moved on without interruption.
However, later in the programme, Jason Mohammad addressed the issue directly.
He acknowledged that inappropriate language had been used earlier in the broadcast and offered an apology to viewers for any offence caused.
The delayed response did little to stop the storm brewing online, where clips of the moment were already being shared and criticised widely.
Given’s Social Media Apology and Donation Pledge
Not long after the broadcast, Shay Given issued a public apology on social media.
He admitted that he had used a word whose full meaning he did not properly understand and insisted he would never use it again.
Describing himself as “genuinely mortified,” Given apologised unreservedly to anyone who was offended.
In an effort to show accountability, he also announced that he would donate his fee from the programme to the Holocaust Educational Trust, saying he wanted to use the incident as a chance to educate himself and do better going forward.
Viewers React With Shock, Anger, and Some Sympathy
Reaction from the audience was swift and intense.
Many viewers expressed disbelief that such language could be used on live television, with some declaring the comment unforgivable and calling for serious consequences.
Others, while still critical, suggested the remark may have been a careless slip rather than deliberate malice and urged Given to fully own the mistake and apologise — which he later did.
The incident reignited a broader conversation about the responsibility that comes with having a public platform, especially on national broadcasters like the BBC.
A Respected Career Overshadowed by One Moment
Shay Given is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest goalkeepers, having enjoyed a long and successful playing career with clubs such as Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Aston Villa.
Until now, his transition into media work had largely been free of controversy.
For many fans, that made the incident all the more disappointing, as a single comment threatened to overshadow years of professional respect and goodwill.
Not the First Time Football Has Crossed This Line
Given is far from the first figure in football to face backlash for using the same term inappropriately.
Joey Barton previously used it while describing a disastrous performance during his time as Bristol Rovers manager, later apologising after being reminded by the FA about appropriate language.
Former England striker Carlton Cole also came under criticism in 2021 after using the term on radio when discussing West Ham’s tactical approach against Manchester City.
He, too, later issued an on-air apology acknowledging the phrase was unacceptable.
What Comes Next for Given and the BBC?
The immediate apologies and donation may help ease some of the anger, but questions remain about whether further action will be taken by the BBC and how the incident will affect Shay Given’s media career going forward.
For many viewers, the episode serves as a stark reminder that words matter — especially when spoken live, to millions, about topics far removed from their historical weight.
What happens next will likely depend on how seriously broadcasters and pundits treat the responsibility that comes with speaking on such a public stage.
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