Spooge's Spit Up - TV Chiefs Sorry for Nazi Anthem

TV chiefs have apologised after broadcasting the Nazi lyrics to the German national anthem during a Euro 2008 match.

Stunned viewers were asked to sing along to the war-time 'Deutschland Uber Alles' song which has been banned for 63 years.

Bosses at Swiss station SF2 blame the outrage on researchers copying the wrong lyrics from the internet before Germany's match with Austria.

"It is beyond belief that anyone could fail to know that this would be massively offensive to everyone who heard it," said one fan.

The lyrics - which start 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt" ("Germany, Germany, above everything else in this world") - were banned at the end of the Second World War.

Only the third verse is now sung to avoid promoting Nazi ideals under Germany's anti-fascist laws.

Telly executive Gion Linder, whose department provided the lyrics, said: "This was a profound mistake and we know there is no excuse. But we deeply apologise for it. I hope such a mistake never happens again."