KSI Firmly Rejects Luke Littler's Sidemen Charity Match Request
Darts world champion Luke Littler has been definitively ruled out of participating in the highly anticipated Sidemen Charity Match after a direct intervention from YouTube superstar KSI. The annual fixture, which features a lineup of prominent content creators and influencers, is scheduled for today, Saturday, April 18, at a completely sold-out Wembley Stadium in London.
Littler's Public Appeal and Swift Rejection
In early February, the 19-year-old darts icon, who is a lifelong Manchester United supporter, shared an Instagram post from the Sidemen group announcing that tickets for their charity match had been snapped up within hours. Tagging the collective, Littler wrote: "Get me in the team Sidemen." However, any hopes he harbored of featuring at the iconic Wembley venue were quickly dashed by KSI, one of the founding members of the Sidemen.
During a March appearance on Capital FM, the 32-year-old KSI, who also serves as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, was questioned about whether he had responded to Littler's appeal. His reply was blunt and unequivocal: "I have not responded and he's not in." This statement confirmed that Littler would not be appearing for either team in this year's event.
KSI Explains the Sidemen's Strict Principle
The part-time boxer elaborated that his outright rejection stemmed from a strict and consistently maintained principle governing the Sidemen Charity Match. KSI explained: "It sounds so bad, but we only have content creators on the Sidemen Charity Match. So we haven't ever had a celebrity come on to play. That's more for like Soccer Aid. You never know, maybe one day we'll have Soccer Aid versus Sidemen."
KSI further emphasized that this rule is applied universally, regardless of the fame or status of the individual making the request. He conceded that even global superstars would face the same response, making it clear that Littler's rejection was not personal. The YouTuber added: "I think for us we're focusing more on just content creators. That's how it's always been, and even if Justin Bieber wanted to play, we'd go, 'No! Content creators only.'"
Background on the Sidemen Charity Match
The 2025 edition of the match saw all seven Sidemen members compete against a YouTube Allstars XI, featuring notable personalities such as AngryGinge, IShowSpeed, Logan Paul, and Mr Beast. This year's event continues the tradition, with the Sidemen roster including influential online figures like Jack Joseph as team manager, along with Zerkaa, W2S, Vikkstar123, TBJZ, Deji, ChrisMD, and xQc.
On the opposing side, the YouTube team will be managed by Calfreezy and feature stars such as Sketch, AngryGinge, KSI, Max Fosh, Mrwhosetheboss, NYKchazza, and Danny Aarons. The match is set to kick off at 3pm, with proceeds benefiting charities Bright Side and M7 Education. The latter was founded by Sidemen member Simon 'Miniminter' Minter and his brother Nick, highlighting the event's philanthropic focus.
Event Details and Broader Context
The Sidemen Charity Match represents a significant moment in the crossover between digital content creation and traditional sports entertainment. By adhering strictly to a content-creator-only policy, the Sidemen aim to preserve the unique character and appeal of their annual fixture, distinguishing it from other celebrity-driven events like Soccer Aid.
Despite Littler's high profile as a two-time darts world champion and his public enthusiasm for participating, KSI's firm stance underscores the group's commitment to their original vision. This decision reinforces the boundaries between different spheres of influence in modern sports and entertainment, while ensuring the event remains true to its roots in the online creator community.
