Nathan Aspinall could face a fine from the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after his exit at the World Grand Prix. The Englishman lost 5-2 to Gerwyn Price in Leicester and let his frustrations boil over in the final set. A clearly audible expletive towards the board even prompted Sky Sports to apologise during the live broadcast.
Aspinall made a particularly poor start to the semi-final. Price took the first three sets and looked well on course for a routine win. "The Asp" then battled back into the match by taking two sets on the spin. The former World Matchplay champion could not complete the comeback. Price regrouped and eventually closed it out 5-2. That ended Aspinall's hopes of a first major title in three years.
Frustration ran high for the world number fifteen in the last set. Aspinall shouted "f*** off" towards the board. The outburst was clearly picked up on television, after which the Sky Sports commentators felt obliged to apologise for the language.
Price was also far from happy with his opponent's behaviour afterwards. According to the Welshman, Aspinall complained about the crowd, while Price felt the spectators were largely on the Englishman's side. "Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were actually on his side," Price said in his interview with Sky Sports. With a 3-0 lead, "The Iceman" decided to call out his good friend. "I was 3-0 up and said to Nathan: 'They're on your side, mate. Come on, stop putting on a show towards the board and just get on with playing darts.'"
Price stressed that he and Aspinall get on well off stage, but he had little sympathy for the attitude. "I wasn't happy with it. I'm very good friends with Nathan, but sometimes you've just got to throw your darts. If you're losing, you're losing." The aggravation affected Price as well. "I was frustrated for 90 per cent of that match, and that's not good." Even so, the Welshman kept his head well enough. With the 5-2 win, Price reached the World Grand Prix final, where Luke Humphries awaits. Aspinall's tournament is over, and his frustrating night in Leicester could yet carry a financial sting.
