On June 17, 2025, darts commentator Rudy Lanssens expressed deep concern and emotional distress over the hostile treatment of Luke Littler by German fans during the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, calling their behavior “absolutely out of order.” Littler, the 18-year-old PDC world champion, and teammate Luke Humphries were booed relentlessly by the home crowd as they were eliminated 8-5 in the quarter-finals by Germany’s Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens on June 15, per The Irish Sun. Lanssens, speaking to The Irish Sun, said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke Littler never sets foot in Germany again. This kind of behaviour is absolutely out of order,” highlighting the unsporting atmosphere, per.
Incident Details
The England pair faced intense crowd hostility, with fans whistling and booing during their throws, a reaction Littler has encountered before in Germany, notably at the German Grand Prix in Munich in April 2024, per SPORTbible. Lanssens contrasted this with Belgium, stating, “This wouldn’t happen in Belgium – at least not so obviously and unsportingly,” and urged the PDC to intervene, saying, “The PDC has to step in – this is completely unacceptable,” per. The crowd’s actions were partly fueled by Littler’s earlier taunts, including a gesture mimicking England’s 5-1 football win over Germany in 2001, which inflamed tensions, per Express.
Broader Context and Criticism
Gerwyn Price, commenting on England’s exit, criticized Littler and Humphries for lacking “camaraderie” and teamwork, per. Littler, who has faced crowd hostility elsewhere, such as boos in Liverpool and Leeds during the 2025 Premier League, has often responded defiantly, like making a “cry-baby” gesture in Leeds, per. The PDC, responding to similar incidents, emphasized its collaboration with venues to curb inappropriate fan behavior, as seen after a pint was thrown at Nathan Aspinall in Brighton, per. X posts, like @SunSport, amplified Lanssens’ fears for Littler’s future in Germany, reflecting widespread concern, per.
Littler’s Resilience
Despite the ordeal, Littler, ranked world No. 2, remains focused. His 2025 achievements include the PDC World Championship, Premier League, and Grand Slam titles, per. After the incident, he told Sky Sports, “I just let my darts do the talking,” showing his resolve, per. The World Cup loss, while disappointing, sets the stage for Littler’s next challenge at the expanded 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship, starting December 2025, where he’ll face a Wimbledon-style format, per Express.
