Wayne Mardle Responds to Darts Fan Who Claims He ‘Went Quiet’ When Luke Littler ‘Acted Like a Village Idiot’

By Patrickads Last updated Apr 4, 2026

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Thursday night’s Premier League Darts action in Manchester was always expected to deliver drama—as it does week after week—but few could have predicted just how much controversy would erupt from a single deciding leg that would end up dominating headlines long after the final dart was thrown.

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The explosive flashpoint between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen in their quarter-final has since taken centre stage in discussions, somewhat overshadowing what was actually a superb night of darts from eventual winner Gerwyn Price, who quietly went about his business amid all the noise.

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And the fallout from that heated encounter hasn’t been contained to the stage alone—it has spilled across social media platforms, drawing in fans, pundits, and even one of the sport’s most outspoken and recognisable voices.

Luke Littler & Gian van Veen Controversy

The incident itself has now been widely dissected and replayed from every angle. With the match delicately poised at 5-5 in a tense deciding leg, Van Veen narrowly missed inside on double 15, presenting Littler with a golden opportunity as he stepped up with three darts in hand at double 7.

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However, instead of maintaining full focus on the task at hand, Littler turned toward the crowd and celebrated his opponent’s miss—an action that did not go unnoticed by Van Veen, who was watching closely.

What followed was an immediate shift in atmosphere. As Littler became aware that Van Veen had seen his reaction, the Dutchman turned back toward him, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. That moment sparked a heated exchange, with visible gestures and words being traded between the two players on stage.

The tension only escalated further when Littler, after missing his own match darts, appeared to mock the situation by making a crying gesture with his back turned. Meanwhile, Van Veen kept his composure under immense pressure, stepping up to take out the finish and seal a dramatic 6-5 victory.

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Littler, clearly frustrated and rattled by how events had unfolded, offered a quick and somewhat rushed handshake before storming off the stage, visibly muttering to himself as he exited.

In the aftermath, Van Veen did not hold back in his assessment, openly criticising Littler’s behaviour by calling it “out of order” and suggesting that the teenager showed signs of being “not a good loser.”

Littler, for his part, chose to respond in a very different manner—taking to social media where he posted three crying emojis alongside a screenshot of his Wikipedia page, highlighting his list of titles, a move that only added more fuel to the ongoing debate.

Wayne Mardle Called Out Over Reaction

As the dust began to settle, attention quickly turned to Wayne Mardle, who had been on punditry duty and offered his breakdown of the incident live from the walk-on area.

Known for his honesty and no-nonsense approach, Mardle didn’t shy away from giving his perspective on what had unfolded. However, despite his on-air analysis, a fan on X attempted to suggest that he had remained quiet on the matter—a claim that clearly caught the former world number two off guard.

Mardle wasted little time in responding, replying directly: “Morning, David. I don’t understand, who went quiet about what?” His response carried a tone of genuine confusion, as he appeared baffled by the suggestion that he had avoided addressing an incident he had already spoken about in detail.

What Mardle Really Said About the Incident

In reality, Mardle had been anything but silent. During his appearance on Sky Sports, he delivered a clear, detailed, and unfiltered breakdown of exactly what he believed had triggered the confrontation between Littler and Van Veen.

He explained that when Van Veen drifted inside on double 15, Littler reacted in a way reminiscent of Simon Whitlock’s well-known sarcastic “well done” gesture—something Mardle was quick to point out crosses an unwritten line in the sport.

According to Mardle, that reaction prompted Van Veen to immediately turn around and question Littler, effectively igniting the exchange that followed. He even went as far as to say he could lip-read what Littler said in response, though he chose not to repeat it on air, joking that he didn’t want to risk handing in his notice.

Mardle didn’t stop there, as he also took time to praise Van Veen’s composure, highlighting how impressively the Dutchman handled both the pressure of the moment and the distraction of the confrontation while still managing to produce a high-quality finish to win the match.

His overall conclusion was both blunt and telling. In his view, Littler had initiated something he ultimately couldn’t control, and it came back to cost him in the most decisive moment of the match.

“He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he won’t be doing that again.”

It’s a verdict that carries weight. Regardless of where one stands on the etiquette of reacting to an opponent’s miss, Littler made a conscious decision in that moment—and it backfired in dramatic fashion.

Mardle, true to his style, didn’t attempt to protect anyone or soften his stance. He called the situation exactly as he saw it and, when challenged publicly, showed no hesitation in standing firmly by his analysis—hardly the behaviour of someone who had gone quiet on the issue.

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