Darts Referee Lifts Lid on Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen Spat as World Champion Gets 'Clean Slate'
Luke Littler could face Gian van Veen at the oche on night 10 of the Premier League in Brighton this Thursday, just a week after their heated confrontation on stage in Manchester. According to darts referee Huw Ware, the two young stars are set to bury the hatchet and begin with a "clean slate" if they compete against each other again.
Recap of the Manchester Incident
Last week, Littler suffered a defeat to Van Veen in Manchester, drawing criticism for celebrating when his opponent missed a match dart. Van Veen, aged 23, accused the 18-year-old Littler of being a sore loser due to his on-stage behaviour. In response, Littler simply posted laughing emojis on social media, adding fuel to the fire.
This clash has become a major talking point as the Premier League moves to Brighton. While Littler is drawn against Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals, and Van Veen faces compatriot Michael van Gerwen, a potential later meeting between the two rivals looms large.
Referee's Perspective on the Tension
Despite the bitter nature of last week's incident and their history from the World Championship final in January, where Littler beat Van Veen to claim his second title, Ware does not anticipate ongoing tension. "In my experience, whenever two players have a bit of needle between them, no matter how bad it is, the next game that they play with each other is absolutely fine," Ware told The Sun.
He emphasised his impartial role, stating, "As a referee you’re impartial. I can’t take sides as far as who is in the right and who is in the wrong. If I refereed for them this week and something happened, then I personally would be treating it as a clean slate. I don’t have any kind of preconceived notions or agendas against anybody when I’m up there."
Player Insights and Future Outlook
Luke Humphries, another competitor in the Premier League who knows both players well, believes the Manchester clash was a momentary lapse. "We've seen it many times over many years. Players have done it here and there. Sometimes you do things and you probably think, 'oh God I wish I wouldn't have done that' but you're in it," Humphries explained to Oche180.
He added, "It's hot news right now but in two weeks it will all be forgotten. No one will remember it and we'll all move on. I don't think it's [needle] necessary for the game. There's nothing wrong with it sometimes if it's needed, but it's not something us players want to encourage."
As the darts world watches closely, this episode highlights the intense pressures and rivalries in professional sports, with both Littler and Van Veen poised to potentially reignite their competition on a fresh footing.
