Northern Ireland

Boxing coach calls for Tyson Fury to remain on awards list

Boxing coach John Breen says Tyson Fury should remain on the BBC's SPOTY shortlist
Boxing coach John Breen says Tyson Fury should remain on the BBC's SPOTY shortlist Boxing coach John Breen says Tyson Fury should remain on the BBC's SPOTY shortlist

A BELFAST boxing coach says world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury should remain on the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year list.

Fury has been criticised over comments he made in an interview about homosexuals and an online petition calling for his removal stands at 130,000-plus.

Coach John Breen, who had been asked to train the boxer back in 2013, told The Irish News that it would be wrong for him to be removed as a contender for the award, which will be decided in Belfast next Sunday.

"He is just saying whatever comes into his head at the time. If he thinks it is the right thing he doesn't care who it offends," he said.

"The world championship is the biggest thing that has happened in British sport this year. He deserves to win it. We need to assess them on their sport.

"If I was his coach I would be taking him to the side. He needs to calm down and slow down, but it is not hatred. Tyson is a big jovial fella."

Meanwhile, a BBC reporter who criticised the corporation for nominating Fury for the Sports Personality of the Year award says he has been suspended.

The action against Andy West, who works for BBC Northern Ireland, came after he made online comments that he was "ashamed" to work for the broadcaster.

In his original Facebook post, since deleted, Mr West wrote: "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. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake."

The BBC said: "We do not routinely comment on individual staff matters."

On Thursday night, it emerged that Fury will not face police actio 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 against the 27-year-old sportsman after interviewing the complainant.

A GMP spokesman said: "The circumstances in which these comments were made suggest that no criminal offence has taken place and this matter will not be investigated any further."

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Greg Rutherford is believed to have told the BBC he does not want to be part of the vote if Fury remains a contender.

On Wednesday the boxer posted a picture on Twitter which said: "Take my belts, sign your petitions, but you will never take this night (of my championship victory) from me."