PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR MARCUS GIVING BBC A HEADACHE
some way during the show on December 20 — which is being held in Salford without the usual large audience because of Covid-19 restrictions. Rashford would be in the running for the Helen Rollason Award, for ‘outstanding achievement in the face of adversity’, or a new prize could be created to recognise his bid to end child hunger. The shortlist is usually announced at the end of November, although in 2018, it was only revealed on the night of the show — an option which the BBC may choose to repeat this year in an attempt to avoid a long-running debate about Rashford.
Public support for Rashford has seen him leap above Formula One recordbreaker Lewis Hamilton as the bookies’ favourite for the trophy but that is causing the BBC a major headache. The current SPOTY conditions state: ‘The panel will select a shortlist using the following criteria: reflects UK sporting achievements on the national and/or international stage; represents the breadth and depth of UK sports; and takes into account “impact” of the person’s sporting achievement beyond the sport in question.’ The SPOTY shortlist is decided by a panel of usually 12 people, which includes representatives from the BBC and the sports industry and is chaired by Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport. The panel is given a list of the top sports people of the year compiled by the SPOTY production team, although they can consider other candidates. The panel then produce a shortlist based on a ‘consensus view’. If a consensus cannot be reached, a vote takes place. The criteria has not changed since 2012 — the year after the BBC faced criticism for having no women on a ten-person shortlist. BBC News have covered Rashford’s campaign extensively this year.
However, Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray was castigated on Twitter last weekend after he introduced coverage of United’s game with Chelsea by saying: ‘Whether you agree with Marcus Rashford’s causes or not, there’s surely only admiration for his continued commitment to them.’ Mowbray explained that ‘impartiality broadcast rules mean things have to be phrased a certain way’ before deleting his social media account. Manchester United will provide 5,000 meals for vulnerable children over the October half-term holiday in partnership with the charity FareShare.