A former world darts champion has claimed Germany should host fewer European Tour events following two high-profile incidents involving disruptive whistling from spectators.
On Saturday night, referee Huw Ware was forced to step in after persistent noise threatened to overshadow a blockbuster clash at the European Darts Grand Prix.
During the second-round encounter between Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price, there was constant whistling and jeering from sections of the crowd, creating a difficult environment for both players inside the Glaspalast Sindelfingen.
In a dramatic moment just before the start of leg six, the Welsh official marched to the edge of the stage, dropped to one knee, and spoke directly with a member of the security team. It was a rare and striking intervention that underlined how serious the situation had become.
Ware then turned to the crowd and delivered a firm warning: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I just told security. If you carry on whistling please do but you’ll be thrown out of the venue immediately! Just so you know.” His words were met with a mix of reactions, but the message was clear — continued disruption would not be tolerated.
Responding to the episode, Keith Deller took to social media to express his frustration, suggesting that Germany may not deserve to host as many events if such behavior persists.
He wrote: “They need to not have so many Euros in Germany. They don’t deserve it if this keeps happening.” His comments have since sparked debate among fans about crowd behavior and the future of major darts events in the country.
At present, six of the 15 European Tour events on the Professional Darts Corporation calendar are staged in Germany, highlighting the nation’s importance to the sport. In addition, the European Championship is scheduled to take place in Dortmund this October, further cementing Germany’s role as a key host.
However, this is not the first time Ware has had to deal with disruptive crowds. Just last month, during the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, he was involved in another tense situation.
On that occasion, the referee halted the match and addressed the spectators directly, saying: “I’ve asked politely once and I’ll say it impolitely – shut up please. Trying to have a game of darts up here.” The blunt remark quickly went viral and highlighted the growing issue of crowd interference.
Whistling has become increasingly common in recent years, particularly as darts events have moved into larger venues with bigger, more energetic audiences. While this growth has brought significant financial rewards, it has also introduced new challenges for players and officials alike.
Ipswich-born Deller, now 66, acknowledged that the modern game comes with trade-offs. He suggested that players may ultimately have to accept such behavior as part of the sport’s evolution, especially given the huge prize money now on offer.
“The players have to accept the situation or go back to crowds of 700 people and poor prize money,” he said, pointing out how far the game has come in terms of global appeal and financial success.
“The PDC have done fantastic to get darts where it is today and get the money in the sport. Just smile and put the millions in the bank,” he added, emphasizing the benefits that come with larger audiences and global exposure.
Deller also noted that big crowds are crucial to maintaining the sport’s financial growth, even if they sometimes bring unwanted behavior. “Big crowds are so good financially. It’s hard to stop the whistling as a lot of people go for the day out and are not darts fans,” he explained.
He went on to suggest that some countries may offer a more respectful atmosphere, and therefore could be considered for hosting more events in the future.
“You need big crowds to get the big prize money. Some other countries are more respectful, so maybe give them more chances,” he concluded.
Despite the controversy and growing discussion around crowd conduct, the Professional Darts Corporation has declined to comment on the incidents.
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