FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Tony Cascarino landed himself in hot water yesterday when he compared an Arsenal player’s defending to the holocaust.
Cascarino was working as a pundit on Sky Sports News during the Gunners’ humbling 8-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The station’s presenter was forced to quickly apologise when the former Chelsea and Celtic man said: “Poor Traore at right back is having a holocaust because he’s finding himself against Nani, who’s literally running him from everywhere.”
Cascarino continued to discuss the game before presenter Natalie Sawyer apologised for the comments, saying: “I should just say that if anyone was offended by what you just said I have to make an apology.”
The station said in a statement afterwards: “Tony Cascarino made his comments in the heat of the moment. An immediate apology on behalf of Tony and Sky Sports was made on air as soon as possible for any offence caused.”
‘holocaust’ is a word used to describe great destruction. I don’t think it’s fair to solely associate that word with the horrors of WWII. So to condem Tony Cascarino is a bit much. He didn’t refer to ‘The Holocaust’.
A possible equivalent would be saying Dirk Kuyt is going through a goalscoring famine – I don’t think people would be offended by that; even though ‘Famine’ has greater meaning in this country for example.
Is this really that bad of a comment? Of course its not something to joke about but I am sure the word holocaust has been used in a similar context before.
Good example Colin, you put the words to what I was thinking! :)
the prefix of ‘The’ is key to it.
Being lost for words might have been better! :-) However, Tony is a former pro footballer and no more. He apologised, Sky apologised so move on I say. Next!
Probably just as will he was stopped in his tracks at 3-1… he’d have been lost for words come the end of the game!
@Colin Tyrell. Well said. Exactly what I was thinking. What’s the big deal?