"Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself whether you’ve been a total numpty” – Barry Hearn sides with Luke Littler as booing at darts tournaments continue

Barry Hearn has spoken out about the growing issue of booing spectators at major darts tournaments. The influential sports promoter, for years the driving force behind the PDC’s rise, believes players like Luke Littler will have to learn to cope with disruptive crowds. According to Hearn, it’s simply impossible to remove thousands of supporters from an arena.

In recent weeks, several events have again shown that the behaviour of some fans is becoming an increasingly prominent topic in the darts world. In Germany, referee Huw Ware even had to step in twice and stop play after spectators booed while players were on the oche.

Luke Littler also recently faced a hostile reception. The young Englishman was booed in Rotterdam last week during the Premier League night at Ahoy, where he reached the final despite the hostile reception from the Dutch fans. Another tough atmosphere may await at the upcoming night in Liverpool.

Littler is an outspoken Manchester United supporter, which is unlikely to win him much sympathy on Merseyside. Hearn expects the teenage sensation to feel resistance again but sees that as part of elite sport. “In the meantime, the players are pros. They’ve got to get used to it. And they will do. But I don’t like it," Hearn told The Sun.

The 77-year-old Hearn, whose company Matchroom Sport plays a key role within the PDC, is mainly hoping for common sense from the crowd. “We have to rely on people’s common sense. And sometimes that’s not there. It’s absent. But eventually it turns."

According to Hearn, the behaviour will eventually subside once supporters realise that booing and disruption actually ruin the night. “Because people realise it’s counterproductive to the evening, which it is.”

Even so, Hearn warns against an overly strict approach. He believes a ban or public warning often backfires. “The moment you say to anybody with authority don’t do something it’s a red rag to a bull – and they’ll do it ten times more.”

In other words, once people hear something is not allowed, there are always some who carry on regardless. He also says mass enforcement is practically unworkable. “You can’t sling out 12,000 people from the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam. Because it takes too long to get them back in again.”

Hearn admits he has no simple solution, but places the responsibility primarily on the supporters themselves. “You just have to rely on a bit of common sense. And sometimes that’s slow in coming.”

His closing message was crystal clear and firm. “It’s annoying. I don’t know an answer other than look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself whether you’ve been a total numpty.”