Dutch darts star Michael van Gerwen was punched in the face at a bar in Den Bosch on Monday night, during the national King's Day celebrations. The 37-year-old was filmed speaking with a man and a woman when the assailant suddenly struck him, prompting security to intervene as van Gerwen pursued the attacker.
Van Gerwen told Dutch outlet Sportnieuws.nl that the man appeared intoxicated and acted without provocation. "That man had clearly had too much to drink and it felt to me like his anger came out of nowhere. Just as he seemed to be heading for the exit, he suddenly lashed out," he said. The darts player noted that the man later apologised via Instagram.
Despite the assault, van Gerwen said he would not press charges. He acknowledged that his reaction to chase the man was automatic but admitted it was not appropriate. "It's a shame that these images come out without any context. It was a quiet and friendly evening in which nothing exciting happened. But it is what it is," he added.
The incident occurred on King's Day, a major public holiday in the Netherlands celebrating King Willem-Alexander's birthday. The event has seen disorder in the past, including clashes with riot police in Amsterdam last year.
Van Gerwen returned to action shortly afterwards, competing in the Premier League quarter-finals in Aberdeen on Thursday, where he lost 6-3 to Luke Humphries.
