Tyson Fury IS on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist alongside favourite Emma Raducanu and Raheem Sterling, despite threatening to SUE the BBC if he was included
- Tyson Fury is on the shortlist for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year award
- The heavyweight champion threatened to sue the BBC if he was included
- Emma Raducanu is the heavy favourite to win after her shock US Open triumph
- England footballer Raheem Sterling is nominated after his superb Euro 2020
- Olympians Adam Peaty and Tom Daley are shortlisted for their success in Tokyo
- Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey is nominated after three golds in Japan
Tyson Fury has been named on the final list of nominees for the Sports Personality of the Year award, despite threatening legal action if he was included by the BBC.
Fury has been named as a candidate, alongside heavy favourite Emma Raducanu and four other sporting stars, after knocking out Deontay Wilder and retaining his WBC world heavyweight title in October.
Last year, Fury asked to be removed from the shortlist after beating Wilder for the first time saying he did not need ‘verification’ from awards. The BBC refused his demands but the boxer was not voted in the top three, to the relief of all involved.
Now he’s been included again and will battle Raducanu for the prize following her stunning US Open win back in September. There is no place on the shortlist for Lewis Hamilton, who was beaten to the Formula One world title by Max Verstappen on Sunday.
Speaking to The Telegraph earlier this month, Fury said: ‘It means nothing to me, and I don’t need it or want it.
‘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. We know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me.
‘Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?’
Raducanu, 18, is the overwhelming favourite with the bookies’ favourite to win the prize after became the first qualifier in the Open era to win a Grand Slam.
She swept all before her at Flushing Meadows earlier this year, beating Leylah Fernandez in a dramatic final to cap the most incredible of underdog stories.
Tyson Fury has been named on the list of nominees for 2021 Sports Personality of the Year
Emma Raducanu is the heavy favourite to win the award after her shock US Open triumph
The full list of nominees was revealed by the BBC on Monday ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, which will be hosted by (L to R) Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, Gary Lineker and Clare Balding
Raducanu and Fury face competition from two of Tom Daley and Adam Peaty, two of Great Britain’s most high profile Olympians, as well as England footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey.
The full list of nominees was revealed by Gabby Logan on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning ahead of the ceremony on Sunday night.
Hosted by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Logan and Alex Scott, the ceremony will take place at MediaCity in Salford. The six contenders will face a public vote, which will open during the show.
But there will be no live audience in attendance due to the new measures brought in by the Government to tackle the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Only essential staff and contributors will be allowed at the venue. The BBC said: ‘The health and safety of those attending BBC Sports Personality of the Year is always our primary concern.
Raheem Sterling’s goals were crucial for England as they made it to the final of Euro 2020
Adam Peaty (left) and Tom Daley (right) are both nominated after winning gold at Tokyo 2020
Dame Sarah Storey continued her Paralympic success with three gold medals at Tokyo 2020
‘Following the announcement from the UK Government that new Coronavirus measures are to be introduced in England, we’ve taken the decision not to have a studio audience at this year’s event.’
Hamilton, beaten to the Formula One world title by Max Verstappen on Sunday, won the prize last year with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson finishing second and jockey Hollie Doyle taking third.
Voting is also currently open for the World Sport Star of the Year, a prize for the most impressive international athletes over the last 12 months.
Verstappen, Mexican boxer Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore, NFL star Tom Brady, tennis player Novak Djokovic and Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah are the contenders.
More to follow.
Lewis Hamilton won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for the second time in 2020
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