Tyson Fury threatens legal action against BBC over SPOTY nomination

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Tyson Fury’s battle with the BBC over his Sports Personality of the Year nomination continues with the boxer now taking legal action against the broadcaster. Fury has now instructed his lawyer to intervene after the broadcaster kept him on their shortlist.

Fury had previously asked to be removed from the list of nominees, claiming that he didn’t need the award. 

The WBC heavyweight champion also asked his supporters not to vote for him.

However, the BBC kept Fury on their shortlist against his wishes and in an interview on Good Morning Britain, the fighter revealed he has now escalated the situation to involve his legal team. 

“I’ve asked nicely to be taken off their list and they’ve decided not to take me off the list,” he said.

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“I’ve had my lawyer send a letter demanding they take me off the list so let’s hope they listen.”

When asked why he didn’t want to be included among the nominees, Fury reiterated that he is not interested in the recognition from the BBC. 

“I don’t need any awards from any TV stations or organisations for me to know who I am,” he added.

“I know who I am and I know what I’ve done, I don’t need a pat on the back and I don’t need a glass trophy.

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“No disrespect to anyone but I see everyone clamouring to get on the list and I’m clamouring to get off it. I don’t need gratification from anyone.

“I’m the peoples champion and the love of the people is worth more to me than everything and I don’t need an award.”

The BBC’s annual award aims to recognise sporting achievements of the past year and Fury was named on the list following his capture of the WBC heavyweight title in February.

Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas to win the championship as well as the vacant Ring magazine heavyweight belts.

The other nominees for this year’s award are Lewis Hamilton, Ronnie OSullivan, Jordan Henderson, Hollie Doyle and Stuart Broad.

Following Fury’s first request to be removed, the BBC stood firm.

“The shortlist is decided by an independent expert panel who choose contenders based on their sporting achievement in a given year,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

“On this basis Tyson Fury will remain on the list for SPOTY 2020. 

“As always the winner will be decided by the public voting during the live show and it is of course up to Tyson if he chooses to participate in the show.”

This is not the first time Fury has been involved in controversy over the award following his previous nomination in 2015.

Sports fans and campaigners demanded his removal from the shortlist over alleged homophobic and sexist statements previously made by the fighter.

The BBC kept him on the list and he finished fourth in the voting. 

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