Darts sensation Luke Littler has been denied the opportunity to participate in the Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium, as revealed by prominent influencer KSI. The two-time reigning darts world champion had expressed his interest in joining the event earlier this year, but his hopes were dashed due to the event's strict participant criteria.
Littler's Public Plea for Inclusion
In February, Luke Littler responded to an Instagram post from the Sidemen, a popular social media group consisting of well-known internet personalities. The post announced that their charity match at Wembley had sold out, prompting the 19-year-old darts prodigy to comment, 'Get me in the team Sidemen.' Despite his high profile and status as a sporting champion, this public appeal was not enough to secure him a spot in the lineup.
KSI's Firm Rejection
KSI, one of the most prominent members of the Sidemen, confirmed the snub during an interview with Capital FM. When asked whether Littler would feature in the match, KSI stated bluntly, 'I have not responded and he's not in.' He elaborated on the decision, explaining, '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.'
Details of the Charity Match
The Sidemen Charity Match is scheduled for Saturday at Wembley Stadium, featuring Sidemen FC against the YouTube Allstars, with kickoff at 3pm. Since its inaugural event in 2016, the match has been held six times and has reportedly raised around £8.5 million for various charitable causes. Last year's edition at Wembley alone claimed to have generated £4.7 million in aid of BBC Children in Need, Bright Side, and M7 Education.
Uncertain Future for the Event
There is speculation about whether this charity match will continue in the future. Swedish creator Marlon, one of the participants, claimed on a recent stream that he was told months ago this would be the 'last' edition. He was heard saying, 'They told me this months ago, they said this is the last Sidemen charity match they're doing.' This adds an element of uncertainty to the event's legacy, potentially making this year's match a significant finale.
The rejection of Luke Littler highlights the Sidemen's commitment to maintaining a content creator-focused lineup, even as they raise substantial funds for charity through high-profile events at iconic venues like Wembley.
