BBC SPOTY embroiled in 'fix' row over divisive Mary Earps victory as fans fume fellow nominee was 'robbed'

BBC SPOTY embroiled in 'fix' row over divisive Mary Earps victory as fans fume fellow nominee was 'robbed'

WATCH NOW: Mary Earps wins Sports Personality of the Year 2023

BBC
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 20/12/2023

- 09:51

The England Women's goalkeeper bagged the award on Tuesday night

A number of BBC viewers who tuned into Tuesday evening's Sports Personality of the Year have been left disgruntled by the result of the public vote.

Lionesses' goalkeeper Mary Earps emerged with the gong after a successful year which saw her bag the Golden Glove at the Women's World Cup as well as reach the final of the tournament for the first time.


She saw off the likes of England cricketer Stuart Broad and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson as they finished second and third respectively.

Earps also usurped jockey Frankie Dettori, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett and golfer Rory McIlroy - who shunned an appearance in person - in the public vote.

The 30-year-old beamed with pride as she took to the stage to accept the award from Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

However, it's safe to say several viewers at home weren't quite as pleased with the result with many feeling her fellow nominees were more deserving for their respective achievements in sport this year.

Mary Earps

Mary Earps wins Sports Personality of the Year 2023

BBC

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, to slam the result, one person fumed: "#SPOTY what a pure fix, the English women's goalkeeper wins it. It has turned into a pure joke now. No wonder viewing figures have more than halved."

"Absolute fiddle that #MaryEarps wins #SPOTY #fiddle #fix time to stop this circus of @BBCSport s***e," added a second while a third fumed: "Stuart Broad got robbed tonight. #SPOTY."

Meanwhile, a fourth weighed in: "It’s turned into a virtue-signaling award. Stuart Broad was robbed. The BBC ruined A Question Of Sport & now they’ve done the same with #SPOTY."

And a fifth echoed: "Stuart Broad and KJT absolutely robbed because of the ridiculous OTT coverage of Earps from the BBC. #SPOTY."

The complaints kept coming as another X user said: "BBC Sports Personality Of The Year last night, what a fix that was! Is Mary Earp's a real household name? I don't think so! Unlike Frankie Dettori, Rory McIlroy and Stuart Broad, the bookies had Earp's 1/8 favourite and Dettori at 25/1 tells you it was a fix!"

However, the divisive verdict also led to plenty of support for the goalkeeper, including from one person who argued: "Everyone just needs to calm down. I'm a big cricket man but pretty relaxed with her winning. The team got to the World Cup final and she was outstanding. I actually voted for KJT, she's a proper athlete..."

Meanwhile, another showed their support: "Well done @Maryearps1 you're an inspiration to so many women and girls involved in football and also so many who aren't but sometimes just want to tell the world to do one... you are awesome #SPOTY."

And hitting back at the backlash, a third said: "It’s quite funny seeing how many people are rattled that Mary Earps won #SPOTY last night. Most of them because she’s a woman and what she’s done for the women's game.

Mary Earps alongside Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson

Mary Earps alongside runners-up Stuart Broad and Katarina Johnson-Thompson

BBC

"Others because they believe women have no right to beat men. Well done Mary. Keep on boiling that p**s." (sic)

After she bagged the award, Earps took to the stage to say a few words.

Earps admitted she was "humbled" to be nominated alongside her fellow nominees before she said to the audience: "It feels pretty great off the back of a couple of really big years and 2023 has been wild in ways I couldn't expect.

"I'm really, really grateful," she added as the crowd cheered on.

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