“They don’t deserve it if this keeps happening” – Former world champion calls for fewer PDC events in Germany after latest whistling incident

Former world champion Keith Deller has spoken out about the growing problem of whistling spectators at PDC tournaments in Germany. According to the English darting legend, the organisation should seriously consider scaling back the number of European Tour events in the country.

Tensions ran high on Saturday during the second round of the European Darts Grand Prix. In the match between Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price, the action was repeatedly disrupted by whistling and booing from the crowd.

Referee Huw Ware felt compelled to intervene. He walked to the edge of the stage, even went down on one knee and addressed security and the audience directly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve just told security: if you want to keep on whistling, please do — but you will be removed from the venue immediately,” the Welsh ref warned the crowd in Sindelfingen.

The footage quickly spread on social media, where Deller reacted sharply: “They need to not have so many Euros in Germany. They don’t deserve it if this keeps happening.”

On the current PDC calendar, six of the fifteen European Tour events are played in Germany. In addition, the European Championship Darts is once again scheduled in Dortmund in October.

It is not the first time Ware has had to step in. Earlier this year, during the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, tensions also flared during the match between Stephen Bunting and Niko Springer.

In a deciding leg, the Welshman addressed the crowd firmly: “I asked nicely once and I’ll say it nicely again: quiet please. We’re trying to play a darts match here — make the atmosphere better.”

Deller sees the issue more broadly and suggests players may simply have to learn to cope with it: “The players have to accept the situation or go back to crowds of 700 people and poor prize money."

He stressed that the growth of darts goes hand in hand with larger, but also less knowledgeable, crowds: “The PDC have done fantastic to get darts where it is today and get the money in the sport. Just smile and put the millions in the bank. Big crowds (are) so good financially. It’s hard to stop the whistling as a lot of people go for the day out and are not darts fans."

According to Deller, the PDC could consider moving more often to countries where the audience behaves more respectfully. "You need big crowds to get the big prize money. Some other countries are more respectful, so maybe give them more chances.”