Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has been handed a three-month suspension from professional competition following an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct during his recent loss to Dutch rival Gian van Veen, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) confirmed today.
The 19 year-old phenomenon, who rose to global fame during the World Championship, was found to have breached PDC’s conduct rules after his narrow defeat in the Premier League Darts quarter-final in Manchester
According to multiple sources at the matchboard, Littler reacted furiously after missing a match-dart that would have sealed a comeback win. Van Veen, 22, capitalized on the miss to take the deciding leg.
Eyewitnesses describe Littler then:
· Refusing to shake Van Veen’s hand for over 15 seconds, instead staring at the floor and muttering audibly
· Knocking a row of flights off a table with his dart as he passed the walk-on area
· Allegedly shouting, “That’s luck, absolute luck. He’s nothing special,” within earshot of tournament officials
A formal complaint was lodged by Van Veen’s camp following the match, citing “a clear lack of respect for the opponent and the sport.”
The PDC’s disciplinary panel reviewed video footage and witness statements before issuing the ban, which begins immediately. Littler will miss the next three ProTour events and the upcoming European Tour qualifiers.
In a brief statement, the PDC said: “While we recognise the pressures of elite competition, there is no excuse for conduct that undermines the integrity and sportsmanship of darts. A three-month suspension has been imposed, with a further six months suspended for 12 months pending any similar breach.”
Littler’s management team said the teenager “deeply regrets his actions in the heat of the moment” and will not appeal the decision. Littler himself has yet to post on social media, though his accounts have seen a flood of divided fan reactions — from calls for leniency due to his age to demands for sterner punishment.
Van Veen declined to comment publicly but tweeted a single emoji: 🎯.
The suspension means Littler will also miss a lucrative exhibition event in Amsterdam next month. He will be eligible to return on July 15.
