The fallout from Luke Littler's on-stage spat with Gian van Veen at the Premier League event in Manchester continues, with the teenage darts star insisting his fist pump was aimed at his girlfriend, not a celebration of Van Veen's missed double. Littler lost to the Dutchman in the quarter-finals on April 2 after a fiery exchange.
Speaking to Online Darts, Littler explained: 'When he come inside the double 15, I looked up, had a drink of my water and then I done a little fist bump towards Faith and her dad. The fans started on that side - they were all screaming - so I was like that to them, Come on.' He added that Van Veen had no reason to stare at him, saying: 'He's still got a dart in hand, so really he should step back, look at the floor and then throw his last dart.'
Former BDO world champion Mark Webster defended Van Veen, telling Paddy Power: 'I was a bit flabbergasted by it all. I don't see what the problem was for Luke, and I think Gian conducted himself really well.' Darts referee Huw Ware noted the pair shook hands professionally, while world No. 2 Luke Humphries predicted the spat will soon be forgotten: 'In two weeks it'll all be forgotten.'
