Luke Littler misses out on Sidemen Charity Match
Luke Littler has been denied the opportunity to switch sports and raise money for charity in a football match with content creators, reports BritPanorama.
The Sidemen Charity Match, organised by the popular social media group that includes KSI, a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, features numerous online personalities competing in a game of football at Wembley Stadium.
Despite showing keen interest, Littler, a two-time world champion in darts, was not selected to participate. Strictly Come Dancing finalist George Clarke and I’m a Celebrity winner Angry Ginge are among those featuring in the match.
In response to the group’s announcement that the charity match had sold out, the 19-year-old tweeted, “Get me in the team Sidemen.”
KSI addressed the situation, explaining, “I have not responded, and he’s not in. It sounds so bad, but we only have content creators on the Sidemen Charity Match. We’ve never had a celebrity come on to play. That’s more for like Soccer Aid.” He suggested that future events might include more diverse team compositions.
Over 80,000 fans attended the sold-out fixture at Wembley, which kicked off at 3pm. The Sidemen Charity Matches have collectively raised approximately £8.5 million for various charities since their inception in 2016. Last year’s event reportedly garnered £4.7 million for organisations including BBC Children in Need, Bright Side, and M7 Education.
Recently, Littler faced a chorus of boos from Dutch fans in Rotterdam, where he was involved in intense matches that included a notable quarter-final against Gerwyn Price and a thrilling semi-final against Luke Humphries. His popularity and resilience remain evident, although his absence from such charity events highlights the sometimes fickle nature of celebrity participation in sports.
As players from vastly different backgrounds take to the pitch, it’s a reminder of how competitive yet connected the worlds of sport and entertainment truly are.
