Button beaten to BBC award by footballer

(GMM) Although he was the bookies' favorite, 2009 world champion Jenson Button on Sunday was not named the Sports Personality of the Year by the British broadcaster BBC.

"Just about to leave to head up to Sheffield for the BBC Sports Personality Awards tonight — very excited!" the Briton had written beforehand on his Twitter page.

But it was footballer Ryan Giggs, who plays for Manchester United, who received the prize.

29-year-old Button, present at the awards ceremony, was placed second with less than 19 per cent of the public vote. Giggs received 55,000 more votes than Button.

Last year, fellow Briton and 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton was beaten to the BBC plaudit by Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy.