"He’s getting plenty of attention from it, so he won’t be too upset” - Gian van Veen joins debate on viral Manchester United fan Frank Ilett

The remarkable hair vow of Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett continues to capture attention, including in the darts world. On Tuesday evening it briefly looked as if his long wait would finally be rewarded, but after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United, the scissors can stay in the drawer for now. To the relief of some, and perhaps secretly of Ilett himself.

Ilett became known worldwide for a playful stunt: he decided he wouldn’t visit the barber again until United won five Premier League matches in a row. What began as a lighthearted fan promise turned into a true internet sensation. The tally now stands at nearly 500 days without a trim.

After the dismissal of Ruben Amorim and the appointment of Michael Carrick, the fairytale seemed on the verge of coming true. Under the new leadership, United suddenly found their way upward. Wins over the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham FC, and Tottenham Hotspur brought the magical fifth victory within reach.

At the London Stadium, everything seemed set for a festive end to Ilett’s hair saga. But the match finished 1-1, leaving both United and their most famous fan back at square one.

The darts world also followed the match with interest. Top darter Gian van Veen, who recently reached the final at the World Darts Championship, shared his view on the situation with Sportnieuws.nl. The Dutchman, besides being a supporter of FC Den Bosch, is also a fan of English football, with a slight preference for Manchester United.

Even so, the draw didn’t hurt too much for him. “I enjoy watching the Premier League and in that I have a slight preference for Manchester United. But I’m not that big a fan,” Van Veen noted. “So on Tuesday I was thankfully not completely gutted.”

Van Veen is matter-of-fact about Ilett. While many supporters feel sorry for the Englishman, the darter suspects that the attention around the stunt also has its perks. “I don’t think he was completely gutted either. He’s getting plenty of attention from it, so he won’t be too upset.”

Van Veen himself would never make such a bet. The darter, known for his well-groomed look on stage, can’t imagine going a year and a half without a trip to the barber. “In fact, I was at the barber this morning,” he laughed.

That haircut didn’t bring much luck, though, as Van Veen went out in the quarterfinals on Night 2 of the Premier League Darts 2026 against Gerwyn Price. After two nights, he sits fourth in the table.