Darts commentator Rudy Lanssens suggested that 18-year-old Luke Littler might consider boycotting tournaments in Germany following “absolutely out of order” treatment from hostile crowds during the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, per GB News. Littler and teammate Luke Humphries suffered a shock 8-4 second-round loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, with Littler facing relentless booing from the home crowd, per. Lanssens, emotionally addressing the incident, stated, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke Littler never sets foot in Germany again. This kind of behaviour is absolutely out of order,” warning of its psychological toll on young players, per.
Belgian darts legend Erik Clarys echoed the sentiment, criticizing the crowd’s actions as excessive, per GB News. The backlash intensified after Littler stormed off the stage post-match, while Humphries stayed to congratulate the Germans, prompting mixed fan reactions. Some, like @AJC2424 on X, criticized Littler’s exit as ungracious, posting, “Luke Littler needs to learn the art of losing with a lot more grace,” per. Others, including @DExpress_Sport, supported the boycott call, highlighting the crowd’s behavior as unacceptable, per. Littler’s frustration was compounded by Dennis Priestley’s claim that he and Humphries “let their country down,” which Littler countered with a now-deleted Instagram retort, per The Mirror.
Littler’s team has not confirmed any boycott plans, and his focus remains on upcoming events, with no prior history of skipping tournaments due to crowd issues, per Sporting News. The incident underscores the intense pressure on the young star, who has faced scrutiny despite his UK Open and Premier League titles, per Daily Record. A boycott seems unlikely given Littler’s resilience, but the debate highlights ongoing concerns about crowd conduct in darts.
