Owen Binks says fans who whistle and boo players during matches “shouldn’t be there” after crowd trouble disrupted Gerwyn Price’s Premier League semi-final in Sheffield.
The referee spoke out after Price was forced to halt play and point out a heckling supporter to security during Night 16 of the Premier League Darts.
Price’s semi-final clash with Stephen Bunting was interrupted midway through a leg after repeated jeering from the crowd caused both players to stop and look towards the stands.
Bunting had just fired a dart into the treble 20 and was trailing 2-1 when the disruption unfolded.
Former world champion Price immediately walked to the front of the stage and identified the supporter responsible so security could remove them from the venue.
Binks also crossed the stage to help locate the fan before the match eventually resumed.
Afterwards, the official revealed there was never any intention of restarting the game until the supporter had been escorted out.
Speaking on TikTok, Binks said: “We were waiting for a fan to get kicked out.
“Usually you can’t hear who’s whistling and booing but on this occasion Gezzy [Price] – fair play to him – he noticed who was doing it and pointed him out.
“We were never going to start the game again until he was kicked out.”
Binks then urged supporters to show greater respect at darts events, stressing the impact such behaviour can have on players competing for their livelihoods.
“The point of this is when you go to the darts be respectful because these players are playing for a lot of money,” he continued.
“They are playing for their kids and to provide for their families.
“If you are whistling because you think it is funny then you shouldn’t be there.
“So just don’t do it. You can have a good time and sing but don’t deliberately make a player miss.
“This isn’t some random fun game — this is their lives. It is ridiculous.”
Once play resumed, Bunting went on to claim a 6-3 victory over Price before later defeating Luke Humphries in the final to secure his second nightly Premier League title of the season.
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