Luke Littler Draws Parallels Between Darts Booing and Wayne Rooney's Football Abuse
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has openly compared the hostile reception he endured during his triumphant World Darts Championship campaign to the notorious abuse suffered by football legend Wayne Rooney throughout his illustrious playing career. The 19-year-old prodigy, affectionately nicknamed 'The Nuke', faced repeated booing from sections of the crowd as he secured his second consecutive world title, with audible jeers notably preceding his walk-on for the final showdown against Dutch opponent Gian van Veen.
Fan Animosity and Provocative Responses
The atmosphere turned notably antagonistic after Littler sparked controversy by mocking fellow player Stephen Bunting following Bunting's unexpected third-round elimination. This initial provocation was further inflamed when, after defeating Rob Cross in a tense fourth-round encounter, Littler retorted to booing spectators with the pointed remark: 'you pay for my prize money'. This confrontational exchange bore striking resemblance to a memorable incident involving Wayne Rooney, who famously lashed out at England supporters after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Algeria during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa – an outburst the Manchester United icon has since publicly expressed regret over.
Reflecting on the parallels, Littler stated: 'You’ve seen it with Wayne Rooney. That clip at the World Cup. I seen that on my TikTok literally a few hours after the Rob Cross game, which was pretty crazy.' He elaborated on his current mindset, saying: 'I’ve learned from the Worlds, don’t react and just play my darts.'
Navigating Mixed Reactions and Tournament Pressure
Littler made these comparisons while discussing another instance of mixed crowd response following his narrow first-round victory over Mike De Decker at the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes. In a match where De Decker missed a crucial match dart that would have secured a 3-1 win, Littler demonstrated remarkable resilience to stage a comeback and avoid an early tournament exit. Analysing the performance, Littler told ITV: 'That was a tough one. I just didn't get going there. Mike deserved to win the second and third sets. I had to fight back and that's what I done.'
The young champion admitted to experiencing nerves during the encounter, particularly due to the tournament's format of first to two legs per set rather than the customary first to three. He acknowledged: 'A little bit [of nerves] because it's first to two [legs per set], not first to three. I got over the line, found about a bit of form and got the win.'
Reflections on Maturity and Fan Dynamics
Looking back on his December reactions at Alexandra Palace, Littler conceded he had momentarily 'lost his head' on stage when responding to spectator boos. Immediately after his victory over Cross, he had provocatively declared: 'Can I just say one thing? You guys paid for tickets and you're paying for my prize money - so thank you for my money. Thank you for booing me, come on!'
In a more reflective tone, Littler later added: 'I think I lost it, I think it is still on there [the stage]. It is one of those things, the fans, you have got to leave it all in there and give out the odd little ones for the checkouts and breaks of throw, but leave it all until that winning dart.' Demonstrating self-awareness about his personal development, he remarked: 'I think two years ago I would have started throwing my darts left handed, but that is how much I have grown and matured. People might not say I am mature, but try being in my position.'
Littler offered insight into the shifting dynamics of crowd support, observing: 'I think people want to see new winners. People are getting bored of me, Luke [Humphries] and Gian [van Veen] winning.' Regarding his championship experience, he noted: 'I think it is the first time I have been at the World Championships and the crowd haven't wanted me to win. I expect the worst on New Year's Day, whoever I do play.' Despite the challenges, Littler maintains a philosophical approach: 'Obviously, people can pick who they support, who they want to boo, but I am not going to do anything during the game or after it, I am just going to do my darts.'
