“Everyone starts acting like fools” – Van der Voort puzzled by Noppert World Series controversy

Vincent van der Voort has spoken out on the Darts Draait Door podcast about the controversy that followed comments made by Danny Noppert regarding the World Series events in Australia. According to the former professional, what started as a simple slip of the tongue was blown out of proportion, with managers, officials and others getting involved unnecessarily.

The confusion began after Noppert talked in the podcast about a possible trip to the World Series later this year. It sounded as if the Dutchman had already been invited but had declined because of a holiday, something his management later denied.

Van der Voort could not understand why the situation escalated so quickly. “The management immediately said what was reported wasn’t true, but he did actually say it. Then a statement gets released saying the media lied. I’m thinking, what are we doing here? Everyone starts acting like fools, and it really wasn’t necessary.”

According to Van der Voort, the whole situation came down to miscommunication. Noppert did not mean that he had officially been invited, but that he would not go to Australia anyway because he had already booked a holiday.

“Danny said, ‘I’m not going there, I’ve already booked a holiday.’ What he really meant was that he wouldn’t go anyway, even if he was invited. But then it suddenly becomes this big thing, the PDC starts calling, managers start calling, statements get released.”

The former UK Open finalist believes the issue could have been resolved very easily. “If he just says, ‘It came out wrong,’ that’s it, problem solved. Instead everyone gets involved and it becomes bigger than it actually is.”

Van der Voort was particularly surprised by the way the situation was handled afterwards. In the official response it was suggested the media had twisted the story, something he strongly disagreed with.

“There was a statement saying the media had twisted it, but I don’t think that’s true. In the podcast he literally says he had already turned it down because he was going on holiday. He doesn’t say directly that he was invited, but that’s how it comes across.”

In his view, the matter could have been settled quickly if it had simply been explained properly. “You can just say it was a slip of the tongue and that he wasn’t going anyway. Then it’s done. Instead everyone climbs the highest tree straight away.”

Van der Voort feels the entire situation could have been handled with far less drama. “And even if he did mean it like that, the PDC can just say he was never invited. Done, finished. But now it turns into a whole circus. It was just miscommunication, nothing more. A storm in a teacup.