presenter has taken heavy criticism on after laughing about the Lionesses’ defeat to Spain in the final.
Sarina Wiegman’s team fell at the last hurdle thanks to a solitary goal from Spain’s Olga Carmona, which was enough to see them win 1-0 on the night.
An average of on Sunday morning, with the peak audience topping 14 million as the game entered the final minutes.
Afterwards, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Lionesses squad should be ‘recognised by the honours system’ for reaching the final at all.
It’s a suggestion which left the Northern Irish presenter giggling on GB News on Monday, dismissing Starmer’s suggestion and the game’s importance.
At the end of a news report about the final, Holmes’ co-host Isabel Webster said: ‘I’m still so sad about it, it was such a shame.’
Holmes then cut her off, responding: ‘So it’s sad – it was a football match, they lost it, that was it, move on.’
After rolling her eyes, she then asked if he was disappointed by the Lioness’ defeat, only for Holmes to say Manchester United’s defeat at Tottenham on Saturday had upset him more.
On Twitter, people watching the clip expressed their dismay at Holmes’ comments, with one user referring to him as a ‘sad and bitter little man’.
Another viewer who disagreed with Holmes said: ‘If GB News has shown us anything, it’s the true colours of those TV and radio presenters we used to like.’
Despite more protests from Webster and GB News sports reporter Paul Coyte, he continued, laughing at Starmer’s call for them to be given honours.
Many on social media also agreed with Holmes’ comments, saying that giving out honours after losing a final would lessen the value of such an award.
‘Keir Starmer’s talking about giving them all [laughs]… There’s still people from ’66 who haven’t got medals!’ he argued, referencing the 1966 World Cup final.
England won the 1966 World Cup after beating West Germany in the final but not every member of the squad was given an honour by Queen Elizabeth II.
And Holmes isn’t the only male after his comments on the Lionesses, with Piers Morgan also under fire for ‘sexist’ remarks.
Meanwhile, Prince William after not attending the World Cup final, despite being President of the FA.
