Tyson Fury: Police investigate 'hate crime' report over boxer's homosexuality comments

The outspoken boxer has described homosexuality as a 'sin', alongside paedophilia and abortion

Tyson Fury (GETTY IMAGES)

Police could interview Tyson Fury over his controversial comments on homosexuality after he was reported for an alleged “hate crime”.

A viewer who had been watching a segment on the boxer on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme today made the complaint.

Mr Fury, who is still in the running for the sports Personality of the Year award after winning the world heavyweight boxing title, has appeared to compare gay people with paedophiles on several occasions.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday last month, he said there were three things that needed to be accomplished before “the devil comes home” – homosexuality, abortion and paedophilia being legalised.

“When I say paedophiles could be made legal, it sounds crazy,” he continued. “But if I had said to you about the first two being made legal in the 50s, I would have been looked upon as a crazy man.“

Mr Fury also drew criticism for reportedly saying a woman’s “best place is on her back” and telling Olympic medallist Jess Ennis-Hill she “looks good in a dress”.

Defending his comments on BBC Radio 2 yesterday, he said his views came from his faith as a Christian.

“Homosexuality, abortion, and paedophilia, them three things need to be accomplished before the world finishes…that’s what the Bible taught me,” he continued.

“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 lots of sins in this life. We’re all sinners. If you don’t believe in God and you don’t believe in the scriptures then we are on a different page.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told the Independent that they could not confirm whether Mr Fury would be questioned as officers had not yet taken a victim statement.

“I can confirm that at 10.30am this morning we received a report of hate crime following comments aired on the Victoria Derbyshire programme,” he said.

“We take all allegations of hate crime extremely serious and we will be visiting the victim’s address to take a statement in due course.”