Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has apologised for comments he made after his side's loss to Newport County on Saturday, where he used the term 'holocaust' to criticise the team's defending.
Barton, who has been in the job since February of this year, came under heavy criticism for his use of the analogy after the 3-1 loss at the Memorial Stadium. This is what he had to say after the game:
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.
I can’t believe I’m still waiting for a comment from @Official_BRFC….this language is completely unacceptable pic.twitter.com/uIAUizLsgp
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) October 25, 2021
The analogy was not well received, with Bristol councillor and associate member of the Jewish Labour Movement Fabian Breckels saying the club should consider the 39-year old's future.
Joey Barton Apologises For 'Holocaust' Comments
Barton addressed the comments in his press conference this afternoon ahead of the game against Harrogate Town, apologising for any offence he may have caused.
I'm just going to say there were some comments made after the press conference last week where clearly no offence was meant, but some people have rightly pointed out to me the use of the analogy was not correct.
The FA wrote to me this week to remind us of our language and communications, and the last thing you want to do is cause offence or upset anybody.
So if anybody was offended by that, I would like to apologise for that and I think the FA were right to write to me and remind me of that.
You hope to use better analogies in future, but it was certainly with no malice or offence intended to anybody.
This is not Barton's first controversial incident since stepping into management.
He threw his players under the bus after Bristol Rovers were relegated earlier this year, while he was also charged with assault due to an incident after a game during his time in charge of Fleetwood Town.
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