Over 30,000 people sign petition to have Tyson Fury removed from BBC Sports Personality shortlist

An online petition demanding that heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is removed from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist has been signed by more than 30,000 people.

The Manchester-born fighter pulled off one of boxing's biggest upsets on Saturday night when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts on points.

While the 27-year-old's exploits in the ring could help him unify the heavyweight division in the future - if he can defeat the Ukrainian in a rematch that is set to be scheduled for next year - his outspoken opinions have proven to be divisive.

Fury features alongside Andy Murray, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Mo Farah on the BBC's contenders for the iconic award but his inclusion has led to a backlash from sport fans.

Fury has been accused of homophobia after he gave an interview with the Daily Mail during which he said "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 is paedophilia."

Scott Cuthbertson, who started the petition, believes that Fury should play no part in the BBC contest as a result.

A statement attached to the petition read: "The BBC clearly do not understand that by nominating Fury, who has on a number of occasions expressed homophobic views and compared homosexuality to paedophilia, they are putting him up as a role model to young people all over the UK and the world.

"There is NO place for homophobia in sport."