MANCHESTER, England (AP) New world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is the subject of a police investigation following the outspoken boxer’s comments about homosexuality that have been heavily criticized in Britain.
Greater Manchester Police say on Tuesday they have received a report of a “hate crime” regarding Fury’s comments, which were published in a newspaper interview before his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight title fight on Nov. 28.
Fury, who is fiercely religious, said that among the things that need to happen “before the devil comes home … is homosexuality being legal in countries.”
Such is the consternation in Britain about the remarks that more than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for Fury to be removed from the shortlist for the BBC’s sports personality of the year award.