Darts Star Hits Back at PDC Bosses After On-Stage Behaviour Earned Him Slapped Wrist
Joe Cullen has refused to apologize for his explosive “cheating” accusations against fellow professional Mensur Suljovic – and has instead doubled down on his controversial claims despite facing potential disciplinary action from darts authorities.
The Rockstar’s volcanic social media outburst following his World Championship defeat to the Austrian left the PDC scrambling to manage the fallout, but Cullen isn’t backing down. In fact, he’s gone further, insisting he was right to call out behavior he considers fundamentally unfair to the sport.
The Explosive Accusation
Cullen’s second-round exit at Alexandra Palace on December 21 should have been a footnote in the tournament’s story. Instead, it became one of the most controversial moments of the entire World Championship thanks to what happened after the final dart was thrown.
Suljovic came from a set down to claim a 3-1 victory, but it was the manner of his win – and Cullen’s reaction – that sparked the firestorm.
Within minutes of leaving the stage, Cullen took to social media with a blistering statement that left no room for interpretation.
“If that’s darts, I don’t want no part of it!” The Rockstar wrote on X. “Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see!”
Then came the nuclear option: “I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it’s part of the game but word it how you will – it’s CHEATING! That’s not darts.”
The word “cheating” – in capital letters, no less – represented a grenade tossed into the professional darts establishment. Accusing a fellow competitor of outright cheating on social media is the kind of statement that gets players hauled before the Darts Regulation Authority.
And Cullen knew it.
What Actually Happened
Throughout the match, Suljovic operated at what observers diplomatically called a “lethargic pace.” The 52-year-old Austrian took considerable time over each throw, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
More controversially, his celebrations after winning legs were prolonged and frequent, drawing increasingly visible frustration from Cullen as the match progressed.
Referee Kirk Bevins was even seen speaking to Suljovic during the match – an extraordinarily rare intervention that suggested the pace of play had crossed a line into potential gamesmanship.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle, a five-time World Championship semi-finalist, acknowledged what everyone could see: “Mensur was slow. I was watching it thinking, ‘come on Mensur, that is slow.’ Mensur’s done this for decades.”
After Suljovic threw the winning dart, he ran off to celebrate at the side of the stage, leaving Cullen waiting awkwardly for the customary handshake. When it finally came, Cullen shook his head, picked up his darts case, and turned to glare at the Austrian before stalking off.
The tension was palpable. And it was about to explode publicly.
Doubling Down
Most players who make inflammatory social media posts in the heat of defeat eventually walk them back. A few days of reflection, perhaps a quiet word from management or the PDC, and apologies are issued.
Not Joe Cullen.
Speaking to his local newspaper, the Telegraph and Argus, several days after the controversy, Cullen stood firm on every word he’d written.
“It was a bit of a head loss from myself afterwards, though I still don’t agree with what Mensur does,” Cullen stated. “I know he plays that way most of the time, but he was worse than usual.”
Then he delivered the knockout blow to any suggestion he’d overreacted: “He even got warned by the referee, which I’ve never seen before, so I can point my finger at Mensur and say he was an arsehole.”
But Cullen didn’t stop there. He clarified exactly what he meant by “cheating” – and why he refused to retract the accusation.
“I still personally think it is cheating,” Cullen insisted. “I’ve always said it since I started playing, if you’re doing something to deliberately affect the other player, I stand by believing that’s cheating.”
The critical word there is “deliberately.” Cullen wasn’t claiming Suljovic simply plays slowly by nature. He was alleging intentional gamesmanship designed to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm and concentration.
“I’ve always got on with Mensur pretty well, so it was disappointing,” Cullen continued. “He knew exactly what he was doing and he did exactly what I expected, just a little bit worse.”
The PDC’s Dilemma
Cullen’s refusal to back down creates a significant problem for darts authorities.
According to the Darts Regulation Authority Rule Book, which governs PDC events including the World Championship, there are no explicit time limits for individual throws or time spent on the oche.
However, excessive delays or slow play can fall under “gamesmanship” (Section 3.12), leading to referee interventions such as warnings, docking a leg, match forfeiture, or further disciplinary action.
The PDC’s position is that deliberate slow play intended to disrupt an opponent is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and a potential rules breach. But without specific time limits, enforcement relies on referee judgment – and that judgment is inherently subjective.
Bevins clearly felt Suljovic’s behavior warranted a warning during the match. But the Austrian wasn’t penalized beyond that verbal intervention, suggesting officials didn’t consider the slow play severe enough for more serious consequences.
Now Cullen is publicly questioning whether that response was adequate – and in doing so, he’s implicitly criticizing the PDC’s governance of the sport.
The Establishment Response
Three-time Lakeside champion and Sky Sports pundit Glen Durrant defended Suljovic, arguing he hadn’t broken any rules.
“You know what Mensur Suljovic is going to do and we try to portray that on the commentary as well,” Durrant explained. “He can go from being very slow to playing very quickly and maybe he saw a chink in the armour of Joe Cullen.”
Durrant acknowledged Suljovic used “gamesmanship” but insisted it was within acceptable bounds: “He didn’t break any rules. The referees spoke to Mensur during it, over an issue, dealt with that perfectly well.”
The implication was clear: Cullen needed to accept this as part of professional darts and move on.
That’s exactly the response Cullen had predicted – and preemptively dismissed – in his original social media post: “The old guard will say it’s part of the game.”
Suljovic’s Defense
For his part, Suljovic denied any intentional provocation, claiming his slow pace was simply how he plays.
“I don’t know, what’s his problem?” Suljovic said after the match. “I give him missed doubles, everything. I like Joe Cullen, a very nice guy.”
He continued: “I never ever play slow. I do it only for my game. I’m never doing this for him. Sorry Joe, never do this. I love him man.”
The denial rang hollow to Cullen, who pointed out that even Suljovic’s usual slow pace was somehow “worse than usual” during their match – suggesting intentional exaggeration of his natural playing style.
The Frustration Factor
Wayne Mardle offered a more nuanced take, suggesting Cullen’s frustration stemmed as much from his own performance as from Suljovic’s gamesmanship.
“Joe was gutted because he lost and frustrated because of the way he played and just annoyed with Mensur’s antics,” Mardle explained. “Mensur was slow. I can see why Joe got frustrated, but he got more frustrated at his own performance and he’s been beaten with an 80 average.”
Mardle’s point was valid: Cullen should have won comfortably against an opponent averaging just 80. His inability to close out a winnable match amplified his anger at Suljovic’s tactics.
Cullen himself acknowledged this: “The game was there for me. He was very poor and that’s the most frustrating thing for myself, because I should win that game comfortably. But ultimately, Mensur was poor and I let it affect me, which is more of a gripe on my part.”
The Bigger Issue
Cullen’s defiant stance raises uncomfortable questions about professional darts that the PDC would prefer to avoid.
If a referee warns a player about slow play during a match, shouldn’t that warning carry more weight than a verbal admonishment? Should there be objective time limits to remove subjective enforcement?
More fundamentally: where’s the line between acceptable gamesmanship and unacceptable cheating?
Cullen argues that deliberately disrupting an opponent through exaggerated slow play crosses that line. The PDC establishment argues it’s within the rules. Both can’t be right.
The Potential Consequences
By refusing to apologize or walk back his “cheating” accusation, Cullen has left himself exposed to potential disciplinary action from the Darts Regulation Authority.
Publicly accusing a fellow professional of cheating – and then doubling down on that accusation in multiple media outlets – could be considered bringing the sport into disrepute or unsportsmanlike conduct.
The DRA could impose fines, suspensions, or other sanctions if they determine Cullen’s behavior violated professional standards.
But here’s Cullen’s calculated gamble: by making his stand so public and refusing to back down, he’s daring the PDC to punish him for speaking what many players privately believe.
If authorities come down hard on Cullen while taking no action against Suljovic’s slow play, they risk appearing to prioritize protecting reputations over addressing legitimate competitive concerns.
The Player Divide
Cullen’s stance has divided the professional darts community. Some players privately support his willingness to call out behavior they consider unsporting. Others believe he should accept gamesmanship as part of elite competition.
Tellingly, world champion Luke Littler – who faced Suljovic in the next round – sided against Cullen.
“I didn’t see anything wrong – that’s just how he plays,” Littler said, diplomatically refusing to endorse Cullen’s cheating allegations.
But Littler’s youth and relative inexperience with Suljovic’s tactics may have influenced his perspective. Players who’ve faced the Austrian multiple times over the years might have different views.
The Unapologetic Rockstar
What’s most remarkable about this saga is Cullen’s absolute refusal to show contrition or self-doubt about his position.
He acknowledged his “head loss” immediately after the match. He admitted letting Suljovic’s tactics affect him was “a gripe on my part.” He even conceded he should have won the match comfortably regardless.
But on the fundamental question of whether Suljovic’s behavior constituted cheating? Cullen hasn’t budged an inch.
“I still personally think it is cheating,” he repeated days after the initial controversy. “He knew exactly what he was doing.”
That’s the statement of a player who’s prepared to face whatever consequences the PDC throws at him because he believes he’s standing up for competitive integrity.
What Happens Next
As of late January 2026, the DRA has not publicly announced any disciplinary action against Cullen for his comments, though investigations of this nature typically happen behind closed doors.
Cullen has vowed to take a four-week break from darts following the World Championship exit, giving himself time away from the sport and the controversy.
His next scheduled competitive appearance was the World Masters at the end of January – though his qualifying campaign ended in heartbreak when he lost to James Hurrell in the preliminary rounds.
Whether the PDC ultimately sanctions Cullen for his outburst remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: The Rockstar isn’t apologizing, isn’t backing down, and isn’t letting anyone tell him that accepting behavior he considers cheating is “just part of the game.”
In an era when professional athletes are often coached to deliver anodyne, controversy-free statements, Cullen’s defiant honesty is refreshing – even if it might cost him dearly.
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