Former world champion Keith Deller has urged the PDC to reduce the number of European Tour events in Germany following disruptive crowd behavior at the European Darts Grand Prix. Deller reacted sharply to footage from Sindelfingen on Saturday, where referee Huw Ware intervened during a second-round match between Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price due to persistent whistling and booing. "They need to not have so many Euros in Germany. They don't deserve it if this keeps happening," Deller stated, suggesting the PDC could move more events to countries with more respectful audiences.
The incident saw referee Huw Ware walk to the edge of the stage, kneel down, and address security and the crowd directly, warning: "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." This is not the first time Ware has stepped in; earlier this year, during the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, he appealed for quiet during a deciding leg between Stephen Bunting and Niko Springer, saying: "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."
Currently, six of the fifteen European Tour events are held in Germany, with the European Championship Darts also scheduled in Dortmund in October. Deller acknowledged the financial benefits of large crowds, noting: "The players have to accept the situation or go back to crowds of 700 people and poor prize money." Gerwyn Price, who won the European Grand Prix, echoed this sentiment, stressing that darts' growth brings larger but less knowledgeable audiences: "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."
