Tyson Fury demands he is REMOVED from BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award shortlist because he’s ‘the people’s champion’ and has ‘no need for verification’ – and tells his fans NOT to vote for him
- Tyson Fury was named as a contender for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
- The world heavyweight champion joined the likes of Lewis Hamilton on the list
- But the Gypsy King called on the BBC to remove him from the list in a video
- Fury said he does not need awards and implored supporters not to vote for him
Tyson Fury has called on the BBC to take him off the list of contenders for the 2020 Sports Personality of the Year award.
In a video on his Instagram account, the world heavyweight champion said: ‘This is a message for BBC Sport and their SPOTY award – please take me off your list as I’m the people’s champion and have no need for verification or any awards.
‘I know who I am and what I’ve done in the sport. I have the love of the people which means more to me than all the awards in the world. To anyone who supports me, don’t vote.’
Tyson Fury has called on the BBC to take him off the list of contenders for this year’s SPOTY
In a video on social media, the Gypsy King implored supporters not to vote for him to win
The world heavyweight champion was named as the sixth and final contender for the BBC’s annual sports award on Tuesday, after his epic victory against Deontay Wilder in February.
Fury joined favourite Lewis Hamilton on the list, as well as Jordan Henderson, Lewis Hamilton, Stuart Broad, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Hollie Doyle.
But the Gypsy King, who was also nominated in 2015, insists he has no interest in winning the award and urged the BBC to remove him from their list of contenders in a video on Wednesday afternoon.
This year’s awards show is due to take place on Sunday December 20 in Salford, Manchester.
Sportsmail has contacted the BBC for comment.
Lewis Hamilton is the bookies’ favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award
Ben Stokes won last year’s award, voted for by a public vote during the show on the night
After his nomination was announced for the 2015 award, following his memorable triumph over Wladimir Klitschko, around 140,000 people signed a petition claiming that his views on homosexuality with paedophilia should disqualify him.
Comments he made before the Klitschko fight, in which he denounced abortion and homosexuality, were heavily criticised after he said their legalisation would bring forth a biblical reckoning.
Fury ultimately came fourth five years ago said at the ceremony: ‘I’ve said a lot of stuff in the past and none of it is with intentions to hurt anybody.
‘I apologise to anyone that’s been hurt by it.’
Fury has been nominated once before in 2015 (pictured at the ceremony with wife Paris)
It was also reported that the 32-year-old faces investigation by UK Anti-Doping over astonishing allegations from a Lancashire farmer that he was offered £25,000 by a member of Fury’s team to lie about how Fury failed his drugs test in 2015.
Fury’s next fight in 2021 is yet to be confirmed, with a trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder yet to be confirmed.
A two-fight ‘financial agreement’ with Anthony Joshua was agreed earlier this year, but that is dependent on AJ beating Kubrat Pulev in his first fight of the year on December 12.