Gary Lineker admits he ‘f***ed up’ with Ben Stokes gaffe at Sports Personality of the Year – The Sun

GARY Lineker has admitted he "f***ed up" after he declared Ben Stokes the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner – before the voting had even opened.

Stokes, the England cricket hero, was eventually crowned as the winner – but Lineker accidentally announced him as winner an hour earlier.

When introducing three of the stars who helped England win the Cricket World Cup – captain Eoin Morgan, batsman Jason Roy and all-rounder Stokes – Lineker blurted out that Stokes was the "main award winner."

The presenter has been accused of giving the game away at the ceremony in Aberdeen – but he apologised, saying he "f***ed up" when wrongly introducing Stokes as the winner.

Stokes was later crowned Sports Personality of the Year, coming ahead of second-placed Lewis Hamilton and third-placed Dina Asher-Smith.

After Stokes was eventually given the title, many viewers blasted the BBC and claimed the prize was "fixed."

One took to Twitter, saying: "How can you say the votes for BBC Sports Personality of the Year is counted by an independent party and not fixed when Gary Lineker accidentally announced Ben Stokes as the winner earlier on in the programme!

"Massive fix! What's the point in voting?"

Another said: "Gary Lineker just let slip the 'main award winner' an hour early and before voting started…shambles."

A third said: "Well well well, who would have guessed it. We didn't need to guess it was already decided as Lineker said right at the beginning. Fix or what?"

Another said: "Gary Lineker just referred to Ben Stokes as the ‘main award winner’ then had to change it to ‘contender’ and now he’s all flustered. Whoops!"

The award show started at 7pm and voting only began after each contender had been introduced on-screen.

There were still contenders to be introduced when Lineker called Stokes the "main award winner."

Lineker introduced the three cricket stars onto the stage at the awards show.

He said: "Please welcome England World Cup winners, run-out hero Jason Roy, captain Eoin Morgan, and main award winner, Ben Stokes."

Raheem Sterling, Man City footballer and Wales rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones were also on the shortlist for the main award, but they had already been introduced to the Aberdeen crowd as "contenders" for the prize.

Addressing the row triggered by the host's comments, a BBC spokesperson said: "Gary's comment was human error and he corrected himself as soon as possible on air.

"It's impossible for Gary, or anyone else, to know the winner before voting opens."

BBC 'FIX' ROW

Lineker then took to Twitter to rebuke the claims that the show was fixed.

He said: "I wish I was that smart.

"I just f***ed up.

"The voting hadn't even opened at that stage. Apologies."

After Ben Stokes had won the award, Lineker added: "Congratulations @benstokes38 on a deserved win.

"What a summer he gave us cricket fans.

"Never saw it coming, honest."

On receiving the award, Stokes said: "First of all, congratulations to all the nominees, what you have managed to achieve as individuals and what you have managed to do for your sport is seriously sensational.

"Obviously it's an individual award but I play in a team sport and the best thing about that is you get to share special moments with team-mates, backroom staff and management who make days like we had in the summer possible.

"I'm up here receiving this award but without the efforts you put in this summer, I wouldn't up here be doing that. So thank you so much."

Stokes, 28, was the bookie's favourite to win the award after an impressive year which saw him lead England to World Cup glory.

His win completes an amazing career turnaround, just two years after he was suspended by England and charged with affray following a brawl in Bristol.

Stokes averaged just over 66 runs at the World Cup that also included five half-centuries and a Man of the match performance in the final.

He is the first cricketer to win the award since Freddie Flintoff in 2005, after his heroics over the summer.

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