Carlton Cole has caused uproar on radio commentary by using the word 'Holocaust' when discussing potential results in Sunday's upcoming football fixtures.
The incident occurred on BBC Radio 5 Live's Premier League Sunday show, on which Cole was a pundit. Discussing West Ham's clash against champions Manchester City, Cole described a potential loss for the Hammers as 'a Holocaust'.
'You've got to give Man City some respect,' Cole said, 'otherwise you're going to get picked off and then it's going to be a Holocaust, and you don't want that.'
The comment was initially unchallenged before the BBC and then Cole apologised on air for the error, though observers noted that none of the other panellists on the show challenged Cole over his use of the word.
Social media users were enraged by Cole's comments, with several calling for the ex-West Ham forward to be fired.
'Should be sacked but we know he won't be,' wrote one Twitter user, while another called it 'totally disgusting and unforgivable' and said Cole 'should never appear on the BBC ever again.'
'An absolutely disgraceful use of words', said one observer, before praising the BBC for 'apologising swiftly'.
Another social media user noted the particularly awful timing of Cole's comment, with it coming at the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hannukah.
Cole's blunder comes just weeks after Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton used the same terminology when describing his team's poor performance.
The manager said that there was 'no malice or offence intended' when he referred to Rovers' 3-1 loss to Newport as the Holocaust and promised to use 'better analogies in future'.
In his post-match interview in October, Barton said: 'I said to the lads during the week, "the team's almost like musical chairs". 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.'
The FA contacted Barton over his use of language and he subsequently apologised, though not without blaming the 'modern day world we live in' for being the reason why people were 'offended' by his comments.
Rodakoprt
0
Even the whole Klopp said Africa cup competition is little and every where was quite. Put sense to that head before you talk about this.
yatceiklot
0
here just for everyone.... Holocaust, Holocaust, Holocaust
10Caldon10
0
Chelsea 1-4 Manchester united. CR7 will score a hatrick.
lol what weed u smoking
Nicadmpu
2
You all know what he meant but you're trying to make drama out nothing. You guys need to chill
fozadilpu
0
he meant westham will be beaten badly still could've used another word
zasmortz
2
Chelsea 1-4 Manchester united. CR7 will score a hatrick.
You must be on some different weed
Footfacts
0
One nil holocaust?
Bikis2
5
Europeans get offended too quickly.. Looking at them it's hard to believe that their ancestors once upon a time went on a killing spree in Africa and Asia
Puubkoyz
2
Chelsea 1-4 Manchester united. CR7 will score a hatrick.
wipailnosy
0
Toughen tf up, people. Too many snowflakes these days
konbckmpty
5
Are you kidding me! So you are telling me that Jewish people own the rights of the word Holocaust now! Outrageous no they don’t anymore The people of African heritage own the word slavery. Holocaust does it automatically made of Jewish Holocaust slavery doesn’t automatically mean African slavery. All words need context before you judge the person who said them. This world is so soft now that people cry over little words and get offended over the slightest thing are you telling me that a man should lose his means to support his family just because he said Holocaust. Well what about the Holocaust that happened to the Japanese when the Americans dropped a nuke on them. Or shouldn’t they be offended either. Joke story for a joke society I’m just glad that I was born in the last century where adults were adults and only children got offended by such things.🙄🙄
vunbimost
0
holocaust holocaust holocaust Wow Great Word for Lossers
Deuadeps
0
Footballers doesn’t have a Braine, sorry
Anthonypizzy
3
Humans makes mistakes so...