Tyson Fury’s homophobic comments could see him removed from SPOTY shortlist

More than 30,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the BBC to remove Tyson Fury from the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year.

The boxer has seen his odds for the honour trimmed from 50/1 to 14/1 after his surprise victory over Wladimir Klitschko in Germany. However many feel that he should not be considered for the award in the light of homophobic comments he is reported to have made earlier in the year. "The BBC clearly do not understand that by nominating Fury, who has on a number of occasions expressed homophobic views and compared homosexuality to paedophilia, they are putting him up as a role model to young people all over the UK and the world," the petition says. Fury has claimed he was misquoted in the interview in question, saying: "I don't have any hate for anybody, I'm not homophobic, I'm not racist. I'm not against any people."