A leading darts star has urged the Professional Darts Corporation to step in immediately to tackle a crowd behaviour issue he says is universally despised by players.
Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko spoke out after his dramatic win at the PDC World Darts Championship, claiming persistent whistling from the crowd is becoming an intolerable problem on the professional circuit.
“The Concentration Is Gone”
Pietreczko booked his place in the next round with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Dave Chisnall at Alexandra Palace, but the German said the match was overshadowed by loud whistling during crucial moments.
“Every time it’s the same — whistling or booing,” Pietreczko said. “The booing is not a problem, but the whistling… your concentration is missed in that moment. I think every player hates it.”
According to Pietreczko, the sharp, sudden noise is far more disruptive than general crowd noise, often breaking focus just as players are about to throw.
Calls for Stronger Action
The 29-year-old believes the PDC must now go beyond warnings and take firmer action inside venues. He has called for increased security at Alexandra Palace and other major events to identify and remove spectators who continue to whistle during throws.
“It needs more security in the crowd,” he added. “It’s difficult, but it’s the same loud whistling every time.”
A Widespread Issue
Whistling has become a growing concern in recent months, with several players raising the issue both publicly and privately. Referee Kirk Bevins has previously acknowledged how hard it is for officials to control, explaining that addressing the crowd directly often only escalates the behaviour.
The problem has been evident not only at the World Championship but also across Premier League and European Tour events.
PDC Already on Record
Earlier this year, the PDC released a firm statement following crowd-related incidents at a Premier League night in Glasgow, making its stance clear.
“The PDC wishes to strongly reiterate that it does not condone any behaviour which can disrupt an event, such as whistling or booing when players are throwing,” the statement read.
“Spectators who act inappropriately can be removed from the venue.”
Despite that warning, Pietreczko’s comments suggest players feel current measures are not working.
Pressure Mounts on the PDC
With more professionals speaking out, pressure is building on the PDC to introduce tougher enforcement — whether through increased stewarding, quicker ejections, or clearer zero-tolerance policies.
For Pietreczko and many of his peers, the message is simple: darts thrives on atmosphere, but not at the expense of fair competition.
As he put it bluntly, whistling during throws is a “problem” that “every player hates” — and one that many now believe needs fixing before it overshadows the sport’s biggest stages.
