CLEARLY, Tyson Fury is not role model material. His bigoted ranting about women and gay people has turned him almost overnight from lauded underdog to broadcasting liability.
The BBC has thus far refused to remove his name from the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, weakly insisting the accolade does not amount to an endorsement of any nominee’s personal beliefs.
The award is, in fact, presented to “the sportsperson whose actions have most captured the public’s imagination during 2015”. It’s doubtful Fury’s actions of the last few days are what judges had in mind.
Some might argue that the boxer should be left on the list so the voting public can decide. But this position ignores the huge, deep-rooted problems of homophobia and sexism in sport, and the huge symbolic power of a bigot like Fury being applauded on TV.
The behaviour of this erratic character on awards night is bound to distract from the achievements of those who have captured the public imagination for all the right reasons.
SNP challenge BBC over Tyson Fury’s Sports Personality of the Year nomination
Martin Hannan: What would it say about the UK if a man like Tyson Fury wins SPOTY?
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