Gerwyn Price's decision to wear ear defenders during his match at the PDC World Darts Championship (briefly) has caused a stir on social media.
Some people think Price has brought it on himself with his pantomime villain status stemming from his 2018 Grand Slam win over Gary Anderson where many thought he overstepped the mark with his celebrations and started booing. Others think the hatred towards players goes way too far.
On Facebook, fellow darter Alan Soutar caught on. The Scot, who like Price was eliminated by Gabriel Clemens, showed a number of screenshots showing hate messages he received after his elimination.
"Here is a tiny snap shot (I have an unbelievable amount of these) into how a Fire fighter who protects the community and just happens to play darts on those stages, also gets abused online every event," said Soutar.
"On stage, the vile abuse, even I get is horrendous. It would break a lot of people. It’s not banter that’s for sure.
"Sing about Scotland getting battered as loud as you want……that’s banter!
"I’m a strong character and think they wouldn’t say it to my face, in person, by themselves.
"We win money so deserve this abuse I’ve read. Give your head a wobble! So you lost a £5 bet, he just lost a £100,000 match."
I am English and support my favourite players regardless of nationality. I have been a big fan of Alan for a few years now and cannot believe such a hard working, decent human being who has a great temperament and personality on stage gets abuse. Why don’t the cowardly referees get on the mic and say shut the fudge up, if not take the players off the stage. The PDC has now become a night similar to a drunken stag night where there are almost no fans of darts, just louts than want to create havoc. It’s why I stopped attending PDC events years ago. I cannot tell you how orderly it was in the BDO Lakeside days, a great atmosphere but the players were treated with respect
Maybe its time for the current PDC owners and board to step aside. Much like the BDO and their main man Ollie Croft became out of touch and were not capable of the professionalism needed to take the game forward, perhaps the Hearns (and Porter) have done all that they can and it needs a different direction. Of course the Hearns are not going to give up control of an (at the moment) cash cow and it would probably require a similar breakaway (ala WDC) from all those years ago.
The in thing now is for a lads night out to the darts, not to watch the darts , just to be a pissed up yob hurling abuse at a player you dont even know because its the in thing. How do i know this? People i work with were showing me messages of guys trying to sell tickets for a session to go along and “get pissed up and give grief” were the words used.
I've never understand the abuse. Do people not have better things to do?
I've never understand the abuse. Do people not have better things to do?