FORMER darts star Mark Webster says he was “flabbergasted” by Luke Littler’s row with Gian van Veen last week.
The pair were after appeared to take issue with celebrating his miss at the Premier League Darts in Manchester.
Luke Littler’s reaction to Gian van Veen’s miss last week left Mark Webster ‘flabbergasted’Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The pair were involved in a tense moment after Littler appeared to celebrate Van Veen’s missCredit: Alamy
The Nuke, 19, after the Dutchman failed to hit a double 15 for the match and Van Veen didn’t take kindly to it.
Van Veen went on to secure a 6-5 win before the pair went their separate ways. But he later after the game.
Webster – a former BDO world champion – leapt to the defence of Van Veen and insisted there was “no need” for Littler’s reaction after his initial miss.
Speaking exclusively to Paddy Power , Webster said: “I was a bit flabbergasted by it all really. I don’t see what the problem was for Luke, and I think Gian conducted himself really well.
“Gian naturally turned around in disappointment after missing the match dart and Luke was just geeing up the crowd.
“I think Gian took a bit of reservation to that but I don’t think there was any need for the sort of reaction after [from Littler].
“Gian composed himself well to get it together, and Luke’s just got to refocus this week.”
Littler has a history of being teased by the crowd and a hostile reception is expected for night ten in Brighton this week.
Sky Sports pundit Webster said there was no need for Littler’s antics in ManchesterCredit: Getty
He will face Stephen Bunting in the opening round and Webster believes it could be a “tricky assignment” for the world champion.
Webster added: “He’ll get a little bit of a hard time from the crowd because it’s fresh in their memory and he’s playing a fans favourite in Stephen Bunting.
“This could be a tricky assignment for Luke Littler. He’ll want to prove a point. He likes to hit back at the crowd if they’re having a go at him.
“I’m not saying it’s a perfect environment for him, but it’s not something that bothers him. You’re going to get a reaction and he’ll put in a brilliant display.”
Speaking about his altercation with Littler last week, Van Veen said: “From my perspective, I missed the double 15. I looked around and I was fuming with myself that I’d hit it on the inside.
“And I looked around and he was doing this towards the crowd, he was celebrating me missing.
“I was like, ‘that’s out of order’. I was fuming about that and I don’t know, he probably saw it.
“He missed three for double seven and he looked at me like I was the problem.
“I was like I don’t know what I did wrong because you’re celebrating me missing and I thought that was out of order.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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