Luke Littler urges fans to move on from controversial Premier League clash
Luke Littler has revealed that he and Gian van Veen have not been in contact since their controversial Premier League confrontation, though the world champion believes it is time for everyone to move on, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old clashed with his Dutch rival during their quarter-final encounter on night nine in Manchester, where tensions escalated after Van Veen, the Alexandra Palace runner-up, squandered a match dart.
Littler responded by celebrating towards the crowd before gesturing for Van Veen to return to the oche. When the Dutchman eventually secured a 6-5 victory, Littler made a crying gesture and offered only a cursory handshake before leaving the stage.
In remarks following the match, Van Veen branded Littler’s behaviour “out of order” and cautioned that their next encounter might not be “very friendly.” The fallout continued at last week’s event in Brighton, where Littler received a hostile reception. His evening was cut short with a quarter-final defeat to Stephen Bunting, denying him an immediate opportunity for a rematch with Van Veen.
Speaking to Online Darts at an exhibition in Bournemouth, Littler appeared unfazed by the ongoing controversy and eager to put the matter behind him. “I wouldn’t say the fallout, it is what it is, it is done,” he stated. “Obviously the fans in Brighton didn’t let it go, I let it go. I think everyone needs to forget about it now. Me and Gian haven’t spoken, but I am sure we will and we can meet in the semi-finals next week in Rotterdam.”
Reflecting on the incident, Littler noted, “I’m looking up at the TV, I’m just thinking in my head, he’s not going to miss. Even if he gets a shot at the bull, Gian’s one of the best bull-hitters in the game. When he came inside the double 15, I looked up, had a drink of my water and then I did a little fist bump towards (my girlfriend) Faith (Millar) and her dad. That’s when the fans started on that side, they were all screaming, so then I was like that to them, ‘come on’.”
Littler expressed that there was no need for Van Veen to “look back and stare” at him during the match, insisting, “He’s still got a dart in hand so really he should just step back, look at the floor and then throw his last dart. I didn’t do it to him, I did it to Faith and her dad, the whole crowd.” He added, “But there was no need for Gian to look back and stare at me.”
The Premier League heads to Rotterdam on Thursday, where the two players could potentially be drawn against each other in the semi-finals, adding another layer of intrigue to their ongoing rivalry that has temporarily overshadowed their achievements on the board.
