talkSPORT’s Ian ‘The Moose’ Abrahams demands Joey Barton and Bristol Rovers apology over ‘unacceptable’ Holocaust comment
talkSPORT's Ian Abrahams has demanded Joey Barton and Bristol Rovers apologise over Holocaust comments, which have led to calls for the manager to ‘consider his future’.
Barton made the comments after a 3-1 League Two loss to Newport Country, with neither the manager nor the club yet to comment on the incident.
The 39-year-old former Premier League midfielder referred to one of his player’s performances as a ‘holocaust’ in an offensive post-match interview.
Barton said: “The team’s almost like musical chairs, someone gets in and does well but then gets suspended, someone gets in does well, get injured, some gets in does well for a game and then has a holocaust, a nightmare, an absolute disaster.”
talkSPORT reporter Abrahams initially responded to the manager's comments on Twitter, saying: “I can’t believe I’m still waiting for a comment from Bristol Rovers. His language is completely unacceptable.”
He then followed up by saying: “Does Joey Barton know what happened in The Holocaust and it’s meaning?
"It was the genocide of millions of Jews, Joey, and it’s meaning is 'destruction or slaughter on a mass scale'.
"Not sure your right back having a bad 45 minutes is quite the same.”
that Barton will escape any formal punishment from The Football Association in the shape of a ban or fine, but will be reminded of his responsibilities by the association.
His comments have been scrutinised by the FA, but a fine or ban has been ruled out as the comments are not said to constitute an aggravated breach of its rules.
By Tuesday afternoon, the club had still yet to respond to the manager's comments, with Abrahams adding: "Still nothing from Bristol Rovers regarding Joey Barton's comments… all the club seem to care about today is ticket news.
"Time to end the silence and make a comment of the unacceptable nature of the manager’s comments."
The ex-Manchester City midfielder's remarks have since been condemned by Bristol councillor Fabian Breckels who described them as 'appalling', while the Rovers boss has been ' in charge.
Mr Breckels, an associate member of the Jewish Labour Movement, was also surprised by Bristol Rovers' lack of comment saying they 'ought to provide a considered response fairly soon'.
Dame Helen Hyde, a trustee of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, has suggested that Barton should educate himself on the subject.
"I don't think Mr Barton knows what the word means and he is certainly not aware of the huge sadness and offence he has caused,” she said.
"Might I suggest he is encouraged to learn about these tragic events.”
The Bristol Holocaust Memorial Day Steering Group has also commented, saying: "To compare the poor performance of a player or team to a Holocaust shows a lack of understanding of the true barbarism, torture and evil that was inflicted on vulnerable groups in society.
"As one of two professional football clubs that represent the city, it is saddening that neither the football club or the manager Joey Barton has issued an unequivocal apology."