THE British sports minister has weighed into the row over homophobic remarks made by heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury saying he needs to remember that he is "a role model".
Tracey Crouch said the controversial world boxing champion "should always remember" that young people look up to him.
The comments come amid continuing calls for the boxer to be kicked out of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year competition over allegations of homophobia and sexism.
Fury - who defeated Wladimir Klitschko to become a world heavyweight champion last month - has been accused of classing homosexuality with paedophilia in a recent newspaper interview.
More than 130,000 people have signed a petition on the change.org website demanding his removal from the 12-strong shortlist for SPOTY, the winner of which is due to be announced in a programme broadcast live from Belfast on Sunday.
Asked what she would say to Fury if he won the public vote, Ms Crouch told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I would remind him that everybody who is involved in sport, whether it is the person who runs the line at a grass-roots football match at the weekend right up to the professionals and the elite sportsmen, they are role models for young people in this country and they should always remember that."
A protest by gay and feminist groups is also due to be held outside the event, which is due to take place at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
The BBC director general, Tony Hall has refused to axe Fury from the shortlist, telling MPs that the corporation was committed to free speech and that the viewers should have their say on who wins the competition.
