Carlton Cole, former England striker ate humble pie after he differentiated the possibility of a heavy West Ham trounce by Manchester City to “a Holocaust”.
Cole made the comment on BBC Radio 5 Live for Sunday’s PL game at the Etihad.
He later apologised for his comments on the same show.
“I’d like to apologise to the listeners for a totally unacceptable phrase that I used earlier,” he stated.
“I’m sorry if I’ve offended anybody, really and truly. Sorry.”
A BBC representative stated: “An unacceptable reference was used during Premier League Sunday and 5 Live apologised for this on air during the show.”
The Holocaust, carried out by Nazi Germany during WW-II, claimed the lives of an approximately six million Jews.
Questioned if West Ham leader David Moyes had selected a defensive side against the Premier League champions, Cole answered: “You can say he has gone a bit negative. Why not?”
“You’ve got to give Man City some respect otherwise you’re going to get picked off.”
“Otherwise it will be a Holocaust and you don’t want that.”
Cole’s remarks came on the commencing day of the Jewish festival Hanukkah.
