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BBC SPOTY 2015 live: Andy Murray wins the Sports Personality of the Year award. Tyson Fury gives speech on stage

World champion boxer Fury had previously made controversial comments about women, homosexuality and abortion  

James Orr
Sunday 20 December 2015 18:06 GMT
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Andy Murray and his SPOTY trophy
Andy Murray and his SPOTY trophy (PA)

Andy Murray won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for the second time on Sunday night. He had also won it in 2013.

  • Rugby League icon Kevin Sinfield was voted in second place
  • Jessia Ennis-Hill completed the top three
  • Controversial nominee, boxer Tyson Fury, finished in fourth by narrow margin
  • Fury made controversial comments about women, homosexuality and abortion  
  • A petition to have him removed from the 12-strong SPOTY shortlist reached more than 130,000 signatures
  • Fury called his comments 'tongue in cheek'

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The 12 nominees:

Andy Murray (Tennis)

Jessica Ennis-Hill (Heptathlon)

Kevin Sinfield (Rugby League)

Tyson Fury (Boxing)

Lewis Hamilton (Formula One)

Chris Froome (Cycling)

Mo Farah (Running)

Greg Rutherford (Long jump)

Adam Peaty (Swimming)

Lizzie Armitstead (Cycling)

Lucy Bronze (Football)

Max Whitlock (Gymnastics)

Boxer Fury pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history when he beat Wladimir Klitschko on points last month, making him Britain's first world heavyweight champion in six years.

Enthusiasm for the 27-year-old's remarkable victory quickly dampened, however, when offensive comments he made about homosexuality, women and abortion came to light.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Fury said: "There 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."

Fury also made disparaging remarks about fellow nominee Jessica Ennis-Hill, saying "she slaps up good", while adding "a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back".

A petition to have him removed from the 12-strong SPOTY shortlist reached more than 130,000 signatures, while Olympic long-jump champion Greg Rutherford, another contender, informed the BBC he would be withdrawing, before eventually deciding to remain in the competition.

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