Sky Sports Mutes explicit Chants During World Grand Prix Broadcast
The explicit song — sung to the tune of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” — was first heard during Stephen Bunting’s quarterfinal match against Danny Noppert on October 9, and returned two days later during the semifinals involving Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Rob Cross.
To prevent the offensive chants from reaching television audiences, Sky producers quickly replaced the live crowd audio with generic noise. The swift action drew both praise and criticism online, sparking debate about crowd behaviour, free speech, and where broadcasters should draw the line.
A Pol!tical Twist in Darts’ Party Atmosphere
Darts fans are known for their passionate, often humorous chants — from “Stand up if you love the darts” to the classic Kolo and Yaya Touré song. But the explicit outburst added an unusually political edge to an event usually defined by light-hearted fun and sporting spirit.
Clips of the uncensored chants quickly circulated on social media, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. While some viewers found humour in the crowd’s spontaneity, others felt politics had no place in a sporting arena.
Sky Sports’ Swift Response
Sky Sports acted almost immediately once the chants began, applying a live audio filter and overlaying generic crowd noise — a tactic occasionally used during past events to block offensive language.
A Sky spokesperson told reporters:
“Sky Sports does not tolerate offensive or discriminatory language being broadcast live. We take steps to ensure coverage remains appropriate for all audiences.”
No official statement was made during the broadcast, but the audio adjustment was clearly noticeable to viewers watching at home.
This is not the first time Sky has had to intervene. Similar measures were taken during the 2023 UK Open and Premier League Darts, when crowd abuse crossed the line into personal attacks.
Mixed Reaction from Fans
Reaction online under the trending hashtag #SterDarts was split. Some fans applauded Sky Sports for keeping coverage family-friendly, while others accused the broadcaster of “muting fan expression.”
One viewer posted:
“Keep pol!tics out of darts — it’s about fun, not fights.”
Another countered:
“Fans just having their say — nothing new.”
Memes, light-hearted jokes, and debates flooded X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the unique place darts holds between sport and entertainment.
PDC and Players Respond
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) reiterated its stance on maintaining respectful conduct inside venues.
PDC chairman Barry Hearn said ahead of the final:
“Our crowds are among the best in sport — loud, passionate, and creative. But we don’t condone offensive or pol!tical chanting. Darts is about enjoyment for everyone.”
Neither Luke Littler nor Luke Humphries appeared distracted during their matches. Littler later laughed off the situation when asked post-match:
“Fans are fans. I just focus on throwing darts.”
The Bigger Picture: Darts’ Modern Identity
Incidents like this underline darts’ growing pains as it continues to evolve from pub pastime to global entertainment. Once known for smoky venues and rowdy singalongs, modern darts now attracts TV audiences in the millions — including families and younger fans.
The 2025 World Grand Prix reached record viewership on Sky, with more than 9 million tuning in across the tournament. For broadcasters and sponsors, maintaining a balance between atmosphere and appropriateness is key to keeping that growth on track.
As the Grand Prix final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries approaches, organizers are reportedly increasing crowd monitoring to ensure the focus remains where it belongs — on the darts, not the drama.
Final Takeaway
What began as a typical night of high-quality darts briefly turned into a cultural flashpoint — reflecting how sports audiences, social media, and pol!tics sometimes collide.
Sky Sports’ decision to mute the chants may have divided opinion, but it also reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to keeping coverage professional and inclusive.
In the end, as one fan put it:
“Come for the darts, stay for the atmosphere — just keep it clean.”
