Greg Rutherford calls Tyson Fury a bigot but vows to take part in Spoty ceremony

Greg Rutherford has called Tyson Fury a bigot

GREG RUTHERFORD launched another attack on Tyson Fury after admitting he had pulled out of the Sports Personality of the Year awards before having a change of heart.

Rutherford spoke to the BBC at the weekend about his removal from the ceremony but decided he wanted to take part after discussions with his family.

The long jumper initially wanted nothing to do with the event which would include Fury despite his homophobic remarks in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.

Fury likened homosexuality and abortion to pedophilia and then threatened the reporter after beating Wladimir Klitschko in his world title fight on November 28.

But Rutherford this afternoon claimed he would not allow 'a bigot' to influence his thoughts.

"I have opinions, of which I was privately clear. I DID pull out of SPOTY, on Sunday I wrote to the BBC requesting removal," he said on Twitter.

"Throughout the next 2 days the SPOTY team asked me to stay on. Also, I realised my nomination meant so much to my family.

"I then asked myself, do I really want to disappoint my own family just because of a bigot’s views? The answer was no.

I then asked myself, do I really want to disappoint my own family just because of a bigot’s views? The answer was no.

— Greg Rutherford (@GregJRutherford) December 9, 2015

AND, I'm mega keen to meet Tyson Fury’s riveting, personality-filled little toe

— Greg Rutherford (@GregJRutherford) December 9, 2015

"Next thing I know, someone leaks my withdrawal request and the private decision I've made suddenly changes to something much bigger.
"So, I will still attend SPOTY, to make my family proud and to thank them for the support in my career, and that’s what I plan to do.
"AND, I'm mega keen to meet Tyson Fury’s riveting, personality-filled little toe."
Fury has claimed he is not interested in winning the BBC prize, insisting he has "more personality in the end of my little finger" than his shortlisted rivals, and insisting heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill "slaps up good" and "looks quite fit" in a dress.
He also launched a foul-mouthed tirade at signatories of a petition to have him removed from the list - now numbering over 100,000, calling for his removal from the programme.
However, Fury appeared to embark on a belated charm offensive on Wednesday, tweeting a picture of himself as a contender with the accompanying message: "I'm going to win this year! Good always defeats evil."

I'm going to win this year!!!!! Good always defeats evil, pic.twitter.com/kjyCYJh79D

— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) December 9, 2015

Meanwhile the Sports Journalists' Association said it had withdrawn its invitation to Fury to attend the British Sports Awards in London over his views and threats made to one of its members.

The SJA said in a statement: "The officers of the SJA took the decision reluctantly, since the British Sports Awards seek to recognise the year's great sporting achievements, which include Fury's heavyweight world title win.

"But the decision was made as a consequence of threats made by Fury against at least one sports journalist, an SJA member, who has written about the boxer's repugnant comments on homosexuality and women."

Fury could yet face action from the British Boxing Board of Control who are meeting this week to discuss his comments.

 

Fury now thinks he can win the award