Fury, a committed Christian who often refers to his faith, has faced a barrage of criticism over his personal views since he stunned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts last month.
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The boxer has defended his character after controversial comments where he appeared to link abortion, homosexuality and paedophilia.
Johannesburg, Dec.10: Newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has attracted another share of controversy as he has been asked by the Britain’s Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) to stay away from its annual award ceremony.
“I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit that it is making a mistake”.
Tyson Fury’s woes continue to pile up and the latest is that of losing the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title he just won a couple of weeks ago.
“When I say paedophiles could be made legal, it sounds insane”.
“Jesus loves me and he loves you too… and he loves everybody in the world”, he added, smiling, as he leant out of the window of a van.
The lead-up to this year’s event has been marred by several unsavoury comments made by Fury including a series of homophobic slurs in an interview with the Mail On Sunday.
Greater Manchester Police had been investigating hate crime allegations against the boxer, but later said no charges would be pressed.
The BBBC met to discuss the matter and the general secretary Robert Smith confirmed that Fury had been called to a “please explain” meeting in the new year.
“I haven’t any enemies, I don’t hate any race, colour, creed, generation, nobody”.
Journalist Andy West has been suspended for criticising the corporations handling of the Tyson Fury situation on Facebook.
A spokesperson said: “The Sports Personality shortlist is compiled by a panel of industry experts and is based on an individual’s sporting achievement – it is not an endorsement of an individual’s personal beliefs either by the BBC or members of the panel”.
“I have opinions, of which I was privately clear”.
In a Twitter post on Thursday, West said he had been suspended by the BBC “pending investigation”. “The answer was no”. “I don’t want him being put up as a role model, in light of those views”.
A change.org petition has already achieved over 130,000 signatures calling for the BBC to rescind Fury’s Nomination.
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I can remember standing in the bowels of Norwich City’s Carrow Road ground sometime in the early 1970s, notebook and pencil in hand, as a tall, jowly figure who clearly enjoyed a pork pie or two lumbered into view.
