Professional darts player Nathan Aspinall has issued a strong demand for a significant rule change at the World Darts Championship, calling for spectators who whistle during matches to be hit with lengthy bans.
A Growing Problem in the Sport
The English star, who is set to face Kevin Doets in the last 32 on Monday evening after a 3-0 win over America's Leonard Gates, expressed his increasing frustration with disruptive crowd behaviour. Unlike the hushed atmospheres expected in tennis or golf, darts is played in a famously rowdy environment. While general cheering and jeering are accepted as part of the spectacle, the act of whistling has become a particular point of contention for top players.
Whistlers often target competitors at critical moments, such as when they are attempting crucial doubles to win legs or sets, directly impacting their concentration and throwing accuracy. This issue was highlighted earlier in the tournament by German player Ricardo Pietreczko, who admitted to being "p****d off" by whistling and booing during his match against Dave Chisnall.
Aspinall's Call for Severe Punishment
Speaking to The Sun, Aspinall echoed these concerns and proposed a concrete solution. He revealed he has previously pleaded with crowds during EuroTour events, saying: "I've said in EuroTours, in my on-stage interviews, will you just stop whistling, enjoy the darts, stop being muppets."
He believes that simply ejecting offenders is not a sufficient deterrent. Aspinall argues for much harsher penalties to create a lasting impact. "I think the people that get caught shouldn't just get kicked out, they should get banned for say five years," he stated.
The world-class player suggested that a few high-profile bans would send a powerful message, making others think twice. He explained his reasoning: "Then, once a few of them start doing it, hopefully they'll go: 'I'm absolutely gutted, I can't go to the darts, I got a five-year ban from whistling, trust me, don't do it.'"
The High Stakes of Crowd Interference
Aspinall emphasised the fine margins at the elite level of darts, where a single moment of lost focus can decide a match. "A lot of darts games are determined by the crowd. The standard is that close. Missing one dart at double 16 on a 109 could lose you that game," he said.
He acknowledged the difficulty of policing a crowd of thousands but insists action is necessary. "How do you monitor 10,000 people from sticking their fingers in their mouth to whistle? So, what can be done?... Unless you tape everyone's mouths shut when they walk in," he remarked, before reiterating his core proposal: "I just think that if you give people bans once they get kicked out then it might change things."
The call from Aspinall adds to a growing debate about the limits of spectator interaction in darts, setting the stage for potential changes in how major tournaments manage crowd conduct.
