Tyson Fury: BBC 'threatens to suspend' news reporter after he complains of boxer's inclusion in BBC SPOTY shortlist on Facebook

Fury previously signalled that acceptance of homosexuality is a sign of the world's end

A petition calling for the BBC to remove Fury from the SPOTY shortlist has amassed over 120,000 signatures ( Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

The BBC have allegedly threatened to suspend a news reporter after he criticised the decision to include Tyson Fury in the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year on social media.

Andy West who is a Northern Ireland reporter for the broadcaster reportedly took to Facebook to express he was “ashamed to work for the BBC”, as by including Fury in the shortlist, they were “hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile”, according to Buzzfeed.

Mr West was referring to comments made by the boxer in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, where he expressed his belief that tolerance of gay people is a sign of the world’s end.

“There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia. Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?”

Mr West’s Facebook status, which has reportedly been taken down, is now believed to be the subject of a BBC investigation.

A BBC source told Buzzfeed Mr West was reprimanded by a manager and “warned he could be suspended”.

In an email sent by Mr West to BBC director general Tony Hall, which was leaked to the news website, he wrote: “I appeal to you as an equal opportunities employer and proud bastion of fair-thinking to consider whether it is appropriate to celebrate someone one who has stated that gay people are sign of a coming Armageddon and equates homosexuals to paedophiles. Can it be that my own employer is happy to suggest that this individual is an example for us to follow?”

The news comes as BBC anchor Clive Myrie said on Monday night: “You cannot be a d******d and win Sports Personality of the Year” when discussing the controversy surrounding Fury.

In a recent attempt to clarify his comments, Fury told BBC Radio 2: “I didn’t say I hate homosexuals. Let’s make this clear… I don’t think gay people are like paedophiles. Two adults consenting to love each other is a different matter to someone messing with a child. There’s a lot of sins in this life. We’re all sinners.”

A petition asking the BBC to remove Fury from the shortlist over the seemingly homophobic comments has now reached over 122,000 signatures. The boxer has responded by calling those who signed it “w*****s”.

When contacted by the Independent a BBC spokesperson said: “We do not routinely comment on individual staff matters.”