"It would break a lot of people": Soutar opens up on receiving vile abuse as a follow up to Price incident
PDC
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?
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Beau also skipped Players Championships 7 & 8 next week, and PC 3 & 4 four weeks ago. If she next chooses to miss the Women's Series and PC 13 & 14 in mid-April then we can make a fair guess as to her reason.Scoobedybop13-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- Aspinall was a no-show: Carl Sneyd steps in from the Challenge Tour.Scoobedybop11-03-2025
- Likewise, I have always been a fan of Mervyn and with this worry on his mind, it explains why his form and ranking plummeted. It is really sad to hear this, often chatted to Mervyn and Tracey during the Lakeside days, both are lovely people. It does seem naive not acknowledging the fact it was earnings, surely there must be others in the same situation. I really hope the Kings can get through this....would a go fund me be permittedrichieburnettrocks11-03-2025
- I always like Merv,but he does he seems slightly naive with his comments. I wish you all the best, hope you can get sorted,and try and get back to a decent game,a bit of money.....and get rid of the dogs,if that's your main concern,I believe your priorities may be slightly wrongrick6710-03-2025
- What’s with the dogs element to this story, trying to pull at the heart strings? Just goes to show that being a good dart player does not equate to being that bright. Seriously, ‘I thought you didn’t have to pay tax on winnings’ , your a pro dart player and its your line of work, your not playing the lottery or placing a bet. I think it was Phil Taylor who said you should put a third to one side of all winnings into a bank account, obviously Merv was wearing his earplugs at the time.Mysstree10-03-2025
- The thing is... the folks who "humiliated" Taylor in the Seniors Events never really achieved anything in the important events - like Taylor did. Taylor had/has nothing to prove... and beating Taylor after he had retired is of zero value. Taylor in his prime would have made easy work of all of them. Cheers.MrYnyslas197107-03-2025
- Taylor was humiliated in the seniors events,so he really has nothing to lose by playing littler. I think he should put his darts away,and let us remember what a great player he wasrick6706-03-2025
- actually, since you're asking... yes. yes i do.colt06-03-2025