Pranav Nair
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford set to miss out on BBC Sports Personality of the Year award
According to Daily Mail, Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is set to miss out on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The Red Devils ace was the bookies’ favourite to win the award. However, he now looks set to miss out on the shortlisted players for the prestigious award.
A major aspect that made Rashford the favourite was his off-field activities. The United star is at the forefront of the free school meals campaign.
According to the report, Rashford is set to miss out on the award due to the ‘sporting achievements’ criteria. It has been reported that the United star could score lesser in this particular metric, which affects his chances.
A judging panel will meet next month to decide the shortlist. The criteria for 2020 has not yet been confirmed and the panel has the right to make alterations.
It is not expected to change unless there is a reaction to public pressure. Rashford’s activities have received tremendous support from across the country. It remains to be seen if it is enough to sway the situation is his favour.
Understanding the process
As per the report, Rashford could be in the running for the Helen Rollason Award. The accolade is given for ‘outstanding achievement in the face of adversity’. It is also possible that a new award may be introduced to recognize his efforts.
The shortlist is decided by a panel of usually 12 people. This includes representatives from the BBC and the sports industry and is chaired by the director of BBC Sport.
While it remains to be seen if he will ultimately triumph, his efforts to end child hunger will live on. It has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands and some activities need not be recognized in order to be known as effective.
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BBC bosses are aware of the potential for a backlash if Rashford is not included. It is possible they could look to honour him in some way during the show on December 20.
As things stand, public opinion has seen Rashford leapfrog Lewis Hamilton in the race for the award.
