‘Why are people doing this?’ – Darts icon slams Luke Littler abuse from crowd ahead of Premier League night three

Luke Humphries defends teenage world champion after sustained booing and hostile receptions across multiple venues

Luke Humphries has leapt to the defence of his greatest rival Luke Littler, condemning the hostile treatment the teenage world champion has received from crowds in recent weeks as the Premier League heads into its third night in Glasgow.

The former world champion expressed bewilderment at why fans are targeting the 18-year-old sensation with sustained booing and whistling, despite Littler having “done nothing wrong” to warrant such treatment.

“He’s Done Nothing Wrong”

“I am surprised and I’m not surprised,” said Humphries ahead of night three. “The reason I’m surprised is because he’s done nothing wrong. But the reason I’m not surprised is because everybody wants to knock someone down that’s doing well, don’t they? That’s what happens in life”.

The defending Premier League champion revealed that hostile crowd reactions have become part and parcel of life at the top of darts—something he experienced first-hand after becoming world champion and world number one.

“I really never had anything like that until I became world champion and world No 1. Then all of a sudden, you’re getting it all the time. It’s like nobody wants to see you succeed. And if you do, then people want to boo you,” Humphries explained.

“He’s Not the Underdog Anymore”

Humphries offered a psychological explanation for why Littler has become a target for hostile crowds despite his youth and engaging personality.

“I think the reason why it’s been happening is because he’s not the underdog anymore. When you’re at the top, everyone wants to see you lose,” the world number two stated.

He added: “I don’t really know what the answer to that question is really. It’s just something that seems to happen in darts.”

The observation perfectly captures the paradox of Littler’s position—at just 18 years old, he should still be the fresh-faced underdog capturing hearts. Instead, his unprecedented dominance has transformed him into the establishment figure that crowds now want to see toppled.

Glasgow Chaos

Humphries’ comments came in the wake of chaotic scenes at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow during night two of the Premier League, where crowd whistling reached such disruptive levels that referee Kirk Bevins was forced to intervene mid-match.

Littler’s success was overshadowed by crowd whistling, initially aimed at Humphries after also affecting Gerwyn Price earlier in the evening, leading to match referee Kirk Bevins having to intervene over the microphone mid-match.

“Yeah, obviously, there was a few in particular that were doing it [whistling] when Luke [Humphries] was throwing,” Littler said after his victory. “Kirk [Bevins, match referee] told them to be quiet and it got even worse, and then I missed doubles and Luke breaks at 5-4”.

The teenage sensation expressed frustration that the referee’s intervention had actually made things worse rather than better, disrupting his concentration at a crucial moment in the final.

PDC Takes Action

The Professional Darts Corporation was forced to issue a strong statement condemning the crowd behavior following the Glasgow incident.

The organisation stated it “does not condone any behaviour which can disrupt an event, such as whistling or booing when players are throwing.” The statement came after multiple matches at the OVO Hydro were marred by crowd interference, including the final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.

The PDC confirmed it will work closely with Premier League venues, who are responsible for crowd control, to take “proactive and decisive action” against disruptive behaviour.

A Pattern of Hostility

The Glasgow incident was far from isolated. Littler has faced hostile receptions at multiple venues in recent weeks:

• German crowds: Sustained booing during the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich
• Liverpool: Jeers during Premier League night
• Leeds: Booed throughout his Manchester United-supporting appearance in Yorkshire
• Alexandra Palace: Hostile treatment during his World Championship run

Littler took to Instagram to express his frustrations following the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich. The Warrington thrower claimed that he would not play in Germany until October when he turns out for the European Championship in Dortmund.

Humphries’ Empathy

What makes Humphries’ defence of Littler particularly significant is the fierce rivalry between the pair. The two Lukes have met 27 times in just two years, with their battles defining modern darts.

Despite losing five consecutive matches to Littler—including the heartbreaking Antwerp quarter-final where he led 4-1 and missed three match darts—Humphries showed the class that earned him his “Cool Hand” nickname by defending his young rival when others rushed to criticize.

“He’s a young lad. He’s 18 years old. Sometimes it happens. You lose your head a little bit. I don’t think people should hold it against him,” Humphries said, referencing Littler’s occasional confrontational responses to crowd hostility.

Littler’s Defiant Responses

The teenage world champion hasn’t taken the abuse lying down. At Alexandra Palace during his World Championship run, he delivered a pointed message to booing fans:

“You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me! No-one wanted me to win but I proved them wrong yet again.”

In Leeds, where Manchester United fan Littler was predictably targeted by the Yorkshire crowd, he made crying gestures and yawn motions toward heckling fans—actions that delighted some supporters but concerned others about potential escalation.

Expert Warning

Former world number one Colin Lloyd warned that Littler’s provocative responses could backfire.

“When you’re doing stuff like that, you could get to a point where they are at you constantly, and then if you react to them, you can’t complain,” Lloyd told talkSPORT.

Yet Lloyd also acknowledged the flip side: “He doesn’t care that they’re booing him or trying to do things to him”—a mental fortitude that has served Littler well in converting hostile atmospheres into championship-winning performances.

The Verdict

Luke Humphries’ defence of Luke Littler highlights the uncomfortable reality facing the sport’s brightest young star—unprecedented success at such a young age has paradoxically transformed him from beloved underdog into public enemy number one at certain venues.

Humphries’ empathy, born from his own experiences at the top, demonstrates the class that makes him one of darts’ most respected figures. Despite their fierce rivalry and his own frustrations at losing repeatedly to his younger opponent, he recognized that an 18-year-old deserves support, not condemnation, for occasionally reacting emotionally to sustained abuse.

The PDC’s intervention suggests the organization recognizes this has gone beyond acceptable pantomime villain treatment into genuinely disruptive behavior that threatens the integrity of matches.

As the Premier League continues its journey through Glasgow and beyond, the question remains: can crowds learn to appreciate greatness when they see it, or will Littler’s dominance continue to provoke the very hostility that Humphries so eloquently condemned?

For now, at least, Littler knows he has one ally in the darts world willing to speak up on his behalf—even if that ally happens to be his fiercest rival on the oche.