Football pundit and former footballer, Perry Groves, apologises for saying player had “a Holocaust of a game” on live radio show

Football pundit and former footballer, Perry Groves, reportedly described a player as having “a Holocaust of a game” on a live radio show.

The comment was made during TalkSPORT’s Warm Up show at 11:00 on Sunday. Mr Groves, who formerly played for Arsenal, was discussing Sheffield United’s win over Brighton on Saturday with co-host Max Rushden.

Mr Groves referred to goalkeeper Mat Ryan’s performance in the match, when he said the player “had a Holocaust of a game.”

Condemnation from outraged listeners was swift. The Holocaust was the planned, brutal genocide of Jews and others in Europe and many British Jews are the descendants of Holocaust survivors or those who escaped to Britain, so it is unsurprising that many people were upset by Mr Groves’ distasteful Holocaust reference.

Shortly after the comment, Mr Groves apologised live on air: “I’d just like to sincerely apologise for my misuse of words earlier. I didn’t mean to offend anybody and if I have offended anybody I’m truly, genuinely sorry and that is from my heart.”

This is not the first time a Holocaust reference has been made on TalkSPORT. In February last year, former Hull City manager Phil Brown issued a heartfelt apology to Campaign Against Antisemitism for also making a “Holocaust of a game” comment.