“It’s clear someone has pulled him aside and said: ‘You need to apologise’” - Mensur Suljovic’s apology questioned after defiant Ross Smith response

Is Mensur Suljovic really sorry, or has the Austrian simply been advised to apologise? Suljovic sparked uproar during his last-leg decider against Ross Smith at the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, actively encouraging the crowd to make more noise as his opponent threw match darts, then celebrating the misses. After initially doubling down, Suljovic has now released a formal apology.

DartsNews Podcast host Kieran Wood was more convinced by Suljovic’s defiant interview with Philip Brzezinski than the statement that followed. Co-host Nicolas Gayer shared that suspicion: the Austrian had already had hours to reflect when he defended himself on stage.

“I think it’s pretty clear that he did the interview with Philip and that’s his real feeling,” Wood said. “Then his management, or someone, has obviously pulled him over and said: ‘You’re getting pelted online. You might have been in the wrong in this instance, so I think you should apologise.’ And they formulated the official statement.”

There had been plenty to admire about Suljovic’s darts that weekend. He beat Michael van Gerwen, survived Smith’s match darts and then brushed aside Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 to reach the semi-finals. Yet when Brzezinski interviewed him after that quarter-final win, the questions returned to what had happened against Smith.

Smith had lost their last-16 encounter 6-5 after missing two opportunities to finish the match. The Englishman accepted responsibility for his missed doubles but condemned his opponent’s behaviour afterwards.

In his subsequent Instagram apology, Suljovic said he had become caught up in the emotion of the occasion and had not fully realised Smith was throwing for the match. He apologised to Smith and also withdrew his inappropriate comments about women during the stage interview.

By the time Suljovic spoke to Brzezinski, the afternoon session was over and he had returned to the stage to beat Van Duijvenbode. For Gayer, there had been ample opportunity to reconsider his behaviour before defending it publicly.

“Of course, he’s apologised now. But I think the more honest and more raw reaction was a few hours after the match, when he played against Van Duijvenbode and then had the chance to give an interview,” Gayer said.

“That wasn’t immediately after the Ross Smith match. There were a few hours between that, a break where he had a chance to think about what he did and what happened, and to speak to other people about it.

“Again, in that interview with Philip, he doubled down and made his point even clearer. I don’t like the fact that he doesn’t own up.”

Brzezinski pushed back on stage, challenging the timing of Suljovic’s gestures. The Austrian acknowledged that criticism in his apology: “In hindsight, I understand that the timing was unfortunate and was perceived as unfair. I would like to apologise to Ross for that.”

His earlier insistence that he simply needed the fans’ support had left Gayer unconvinced.

“On Sunday, he was trying to shift the focus more towards him just talking to the fans and saying he needs the support, because without the fans he’s nothing,” he said. “In my opinion, if that’s the way you want to play it, then just own it. Own the fact that you’re a player who’s willing to do absolutely anything to win a game of darts. Whether people like that or not is up to them. Every fan can judge for themselves.”

Gayer had been similarly frustrated by the aftermath of Suljovic’s World Championship win over Joe Cullen. He recalled Suljovic approaching his beaten opponent smiling and attempting to embrace him, with Cullen in no mood to reciprocate.

“He should own up to the way he plays the game a bit more. Stand for the way he plays, and not afterwards always put a smile on and say: ‘That was just a little bit of fun, a few games here and there.’ This time he apologised, but I think that was more because he had to, because of everything going on on social media.”

Cullen had gone further than Smith after his 3-1 defeat in the second round at Alexandra Palace last December, accusing Suljovic of cheating. The Austrian’s pace, extended celebrations and time taken between visits had all contributed to a bad-tempered encounter.

Wood nevertheless defended Suljovic over that match. “I don’t actually think Mensur did too much wrong there, because it was gamesmanship, but it was within the rules,” he said.

“You see other players doing things like that. Mensur’s not alone in celebrating to really make a point, or methodically taking his darts out of the board one at a time so his opponent has to wait. James Wade has done that for two decades.

“In terms of those antics we see from Suljovic all the time, I don’t think that is crossing the line. That is something you expect when you play Suljovic, and players need to learn how to deal with it.”

Few opponents arrive at a match against Suljovic expecting a quick game. Gayer had little enthusiasm for watching that kind of contest, but felt players still had to be ready for it.

“If I sit in front of my TV, watch Ally Pally darts and see Mensur up against Joe Cullen, it’s not the way I want the game to be played. I don’t want to watch that. That’s not what gets me excited. But that’s my personal opinion.

“Looking at it from a neutral perspective, in that Cullen match at Ally Pally, he didn’t really do much wrong. Those are professional darts players. They know they are up against Mensur weeks in advance, or could be up against him. You have to be prepared for that and in the right frame of mind to face what’s coming up against you.”

Smith, for his part, had acknowledged his own missed chances in Basel even while criticising what Suljovic was doing behind him. Gayer wanted opponents’ performances to remain part of the conversation too.

“I think it’s often a bit easy for players to just complain about that,” he continued. “They also have to look for the mistakes they made or make in those matches. I’m usually not one who just jumps on Mensur and says: ‘It’s one of those again. He shouldn’t be doing that.’ I think that’s a bit too easy.”

In Basel, Smith was already at the oche throwing to win when Suljovic appealed to the audience behind him. Wood could accept an opponent taking his time; the arm-waving during match darts was another matter.

“It’s putting the opponent off deliberately, or trying to, by encouraging the crowd when they’re throwing for the match,” he said. “That goes further than something that could be interpreted as Mensur being slow and methodical for himself.

“That’s what he tries to put across anyway, isn’t it? But you can’t really say you’re doing that for yourself. That is purely trying to put off the player you’re playing against. That’s where I think it crosses the line.”

Wood contrasted that with Alexis Toylo, whose naturally measured action has also frustrated opponents. Toylo’s pace alone was no reason to accuse him of trying to disrupt a match.

“Then it looks like we’re all just complaining about slow players and methodical players again. That’s the thing that shouldn’t be happening,” Gayer said. “You can’t blame Alexis Toylo for learning the game the way he learned it. They play different darts where he’s from, and that’s okay. Not every player has to be fast.”

Suljovic eventually lost to Luke Humphries in the semi-finals, bringing an impressive run to an end. Wins over Van Gerwen, Smith and Van Duijvenbode could have given him a very different weekend to look back on.

“It’s really disappointing for this to be the talking point when Mensur had arguably his best single tournament in a long while,” Wood said. “He obviously got to the semis of a Euro Tour. Yet all we’re talking about again is Suljovic’s antics.”

Suljovic now faces scrutiny beyond his fellow players and the audience. Sky Sports has reported that both his conduct against Smith and his comments during the stage interview have been referred to the Darts Regulatory Authority.

Asked during the podcast about possible disciplinary action, Gayer was doubtful it would follow, but felt a sanction could affect how players approached similar situations.

“If they were to step in, that would maybe lead to another rule being introduced, a case for future matches to show that if something like that happens, the governing bodies will step in,” he said. “I don’t know if anything will happen. I personally don’t think it will. But if it does, that sets the tone for future darts a bit.”

Suljovic has apologised for the timing of his gestures and his remarks about women. Whether that is followed by a sanction is now a matter for the DRA.