Gary Lineker has claimed Andy Murray will regret not attending the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award after his historic win at Wimbledon.
Murray is clear favourite to win the accolade and Lineker, who is hosting the event, revealed it “may be a great shame” that he cannot attend the ceremony on Sunday.
Murray, 26, is due to link-up via satellite from his Miami training base to Leeds where the awards are being held.
The Scot decided not to return to the UK for the event because it would disrupt his training.
Murray is still working his way back to full fitness following back surgery and is due to train every day up to and including Christmas Day before flying to Abu Dhabi for a match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Boxing Day.
Lineker said Murray’s absence will not diminish the event, but added that the Scot may regret his decision in the future.
“If he goes on to win, and obviously he’s the favourite, we’ll hear from him via satellite. But maybe in the years to come he may regret it,” said Lineker.
“The reception that people get when they win the award is quite unforgettable. It’s a real chance to finally get that respect for working damn hard.”
The tennis player is on a shortlist of 10 alongside Sir Ben Ainslie, Ian Bell, Hannah Cockroft, Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Leigh Halfpenny, Tony McCoy, Christine Ohuruogu and Justin Rose.
But Murray is the favourite after ending the 77-year wait for a British winner of the Wimbledon men’s singles title.
