Northern Ireland

BBC suspends reporter Andy West over Tyson Fury Facebook post

Reporter Andy West today tweeted that he had been suspended by his BBC bosses
Reporter Andy West today tweeted that he had been suspended by his BBC bosses Reporter Andy West today tweeted that he had been suspended by his BBC bosses
By Valerie Robinson

A BBC Northern Ireland journalist has been suspended for criticising a decision by broadcasting chiefs to keep boxer Tyson Fury on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year or Spoty.

Reporter Andy West tweeted news of his suspension, telling his followers on Wednesday: “I can’t say more but, as of yesterday, I am suspended by the BBC pending investigation. I made my bed now I have time to lie in it!”

The BBC is not commenting on the matter.

Mr West fell foul of his bosses when he wrote on his Facebook page that he was “ashamed” to work for the corporation after Fury’s nomination was announced.

“My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world.

“It’s tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encourage by his naive, juvenile bigotry. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake,” he wrote.

It is understood that the Belfast-based journalist also wrote a letter to BBC’s director general Tony Hall protesting the nomination.

Over 131,000 people have signed an online petition on the change.org website calling on the BBC to remove Fury from the shortlist, with organisers saying: “There is NO place for homophobia in sport.”

On Thursday night it emerged that Fury will face no police action over allegations he committed a hate crime.

The comments made on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire Show on Tuesday, where he reiterated his opposition to homosexuality, were the subject of a complaint to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

But the force said that while the comments had been recorded as a "hate incident", it was taking no further action after interviewing the complainant.

Tyson also declared after his Dusseldorf victory that he believed “a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back. That's my personal belief. Making me a good cup of tea, that's what I believe”.