Boos during the match between Gerwyn Price and Dave Chisnall sparked fresh debate at the European Darts Grand Prix 2026 in Sindelfingen. Referee Huw Ware even felt compelled to step in and announced he was in contact with security to have disruptive spectators removed from the venue. Most recently, Keith Deller also leveled sharp criticism at German crowds and even questioned whether so many European Tour events should continue to be staged in Germany. In Sindelfingen, Martin Schindler addressed the role of the fans in an exclusive interview with Dartsnews.com (YouTube) and offered a nuanced view of both support and booing.
Schindler defended the German crowd, stating, "It's not personal." He explained that while fan support can have an effect—such as opponents missing more often against him due to the crowd—he puts that into perspective, noting it only really happened when he started playing better and becoming more successful. "I wouldn't blame the crowd," he said. Schindler added that atmosphere in darts isn't always purely positive, sharing, "I've played in England where fans booed me—it's part of the job. You have to learn to deal with it."
In his view, international players sometimes misread the situation in Germany. "I think some players complain about the crowds in Germany, especially when they get booed in matches against German players," said Schindler. "It's not personal. It has nothing to do with who they are or how they behave. German fans just want German players to succeed." He stressed that the tremendous fan support reflects the strong growth of darts in Germany, citing huge demand on the European Tour and at exhibitions.
At the same time, Schindler doesn't view home advantage as an unqualified benefit. "From my point of view, you always want to keep things fair," he said. "I always try my best, but it doesn't make the game easier. When there are 3,500–4,000 people in the arena all supporting one player, you really feel it—suddenly the treble 20 feels like the hardest target in the world."
