Piers Morgan has been compared to Joey Barton for his controversial comments on Mary Earps’ Sports Personality of the Year victory.
England goalkeeper Earps was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) on Tuesday evening, having been the Lionesses' standout player as they reached their first World Cup final in the summer.
The 30-year-old, who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at that tournament, became the second women's footballer in succession to be named SPOTY after Lionesses team-mate Beth Mead picked up the prize last year.
England cricketer Stuart Broad was second, with world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson third.
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After the ceremony, the notoriously outspoken Morgan was among those to criticise the public’s decision to vote for Earps as the winner.
He wrote on X, formally Twitter: "Trying to get my head around two of England's women footballers winning BBC SPOTY in successive years… while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori and Ronnie O'Sullivan have never won it.
“No offence to Ms Earps, but shouldn't it have been given to someone who actually won something in 2023?"
However, SPOTY viewers hit back at Morgan, with some comparing his comments to those of Barton, who has caused a massive uproar in the past month for claiming women should not be allowed to give their opinions on men’s football.
On X, one person sarcastically replied to Morgan: "Basically what happened was one year Beth Mead was voted by the public as the winner and then the following year Mary Earps was voted by the public as the winner."
Another added: "She sold more goalkeeper shirts than [Jordan] Pickford. Made girls believe. Brought joy to millions despite making us wake up at stupid times to see the games.
“She also won the Arnold Clark Cup if that helps your frankly ridiculous argument."
And a third said: "Is Morgan going full [Joey] Barton here? Never ever go full Barton!"
Topics: Football, Joey Barton, England
Chris Byfield