Tyson Fury threatens legal action if he features on SPOTY shortlist

Tyson Fury threatens LEGAL ACTION against the BBC if they include him on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist… as heavyweight champion insists the prize ‘means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it’

  • Tyson Fury is one of the favourites to be named Sports Personality of the Year
  • Heavyweight champion Fury enjoyed a stellar year after beating Deontay Wilder 
  • But he has, for the second year in a row, said he does not want to win the award 
  • This time, he has said the BBC will soon ‘hear from his solicitors’ if he is named 

Tyson Fury has threatened to take legal action against the BBC if he is named on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.

The heavyweight champion is among the favourites for the accolade and is expected to be included among the contenders, who will be officially unveiled next week. 

He is adamant that he wants no part in the pomp and ceremony, however, and has even declared that the organisation will ‘hear from his solicitors’ if he is chosen.

It’s the second successive year he has taken the stance on being shortlisted. 

But his thrilling victory over fierce nemesis Deontay Wilder in their trilogy match in October means he is almost certain to rank among the bookmakers’ hottest tips. 

‘It means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it,’ Fury has told The Telegraph.

Tyson Fury threatened legal action if he is included on the Sports Personality of the Year list

Heavyweight champion Fury is among the favourites to win the prize after a sensational year

‘In fact, they will hear from my solicitors if they do put me on the list. Give it to someone who needs it. I don’t.

‘And, anyway, we know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me. I am the sports personality. 

‘Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?’ 

Fury defeated arch rival Deontay Wilder in October’s thrilling trilogy showdown in Las Vegas 

But the Gypsy King has insisted he doesn’t ‘need’ or ‘want’ to be crowned in the BBC’s awards

Voicing his opposition against his inclusion last year, the Gypsy King used TV show Good Morning Britain to reveal he had told his lawyers to write to the BBC. 

But despite their efforts, the corporation refused to back down – even after Fury doubled down on his viewpoint in a post on Instagram.

He revealed that he had ‘no need for verification or any awards’, and again highlighted his self-declaration as the ‘people’s champion’. 

The BBC publicly rebuffed Fury’s attempts and said that he would stay on the list. 

Last year, Fury again took legal steps to ensure he would not be included on the shortlist

A spokesperson said that the contenders were drawn up by an ‘independent expert panel’, with sportspeople selected as a result of their ‘achievement in a given year’. 

In 2015, Fury was faced with a petition – which received over 100,000 signatures – demanding his removal from the shortlist due to sexist and homophobic comments.

He was not nominated in 2018, a surprise move in light of his comeback to the ring. That year, he heroically picked himself off the canvas to draw with Deontay Wilder.

Geraint Thomas won the gong, and Fury said: ‘They wouldn’t give it to me and give me credit if I won 50 world title belts from the people who put it on, and I don’t care.

Lewis Hamilton took home the 2020 prize, and this year’s candidates are unveiled next week

‘I should have won it three times already. I’ve got my wife and my kids. That’s all the awards I need. I’ll sue [the BBC] if they put me on.’

Tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is the heavy favourite to take home the award this year, and the winner will be announced on December 19.

Last time, Lewis Hamilton came out on top in a list which included Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jordan Henderson, Hollie Doyle and Stuart Broad.




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