The latest whistling incident on the European Tour has once again put darts crowds under the spotlight, but the latest episode of the DartsNews Podcast offers a perspective few others can. Hosts Kieran Wood and Nicolas Gayer, with Gayer on site in Sindelfingen across the weekend, go beyond reaction and into a behind-the-scenes look at what actually unfolded inside the arena, from the press room to the crowd itself. As both a German voice and an eyewitness to the latest flashpoint, Gayer provides context that is often missing from the wider debate, challenging the growing narrative around German crowds while acknowledging the issues that continue to surface across the sport.
The latest controversy came during Gerwyn Price’s opening match at the European Darts Grand Prix, where Huw Ware was forced to step in and address whistling from the crowd. From his position in the press area, Gayer had a clear view of how the situation unfolded. “The press area, if you will, which wasn’t that big, but it was really well set up,” he said. “We were located at the end of the arena, pretty much right under the roof, so on the balcony. It was really good to watch everything from up there.” Watching from above, the German journalist saw Ware’s intervention first-hand and was quick to highlight the impact it had. “I witnessed that live when Huw Ware stepped in again,” he continued. “And I think the only thing I can say is, hats off to him. I think he’s doing a fantastic job just with refereeing in general and with being one of the faces of the PDC, but also with stepping in during those sequences. It’s unfortunate that he has to do it, obviously, but really good job from Huw Ware again, I’d say.”
The way officials handle these situations has become a debate in itself, something Wood put directly to Gayer. “Do you think that is the best way to stop it, referees being more vocal?” he asked. “Because you’ve seen Kirk Bevins in the past say if you acknowledge it, it just gets worse, whereas Huw Ware will go out there, talk to security and point out the whistlers.” Gayer pointed to what he witnessed in Sindelfingen as clear evidence that intervention can work. “I think if you look at the sequences where Huw Ware actually gets active and is aggressive about it, the development proves him right,” he said. “Because after that, we didn’t have that much whistling in Sindelfingen anymore, and also on other occasions.” From that vantage point, the shift inside the arena was noticeable, strengthening the argument for a firmer, more proactive approach from officials.
The latest incident has once again put German crowds under scrutiny, with criticism growing louder in recent weeks. Former world champion Keith Deller has suggested the PDC should consider limiting events in Germany, adding further weight to the debate. Gayer did not dismiss the issue, but made it clear the conversation needs to be framed more broadly. “We cannot be happy about the fact that it still happens often with German crowds,” he said, acknowledging the recurring nature of the problem. However, he quickly pointed beyond Germany, referencing similar scenes across recent events. “But you just have to look at the last few weeks… Brighton, Rotterdam, what happened at Ally Pally,” he added, placing the issue within a wider context. That perspective underpins his central argument. “So I think it wouldn’t be fair to just call it a German problem. I think we have that problem in many arenas nowadays.” While he accepts Germany may currently be under greater scrutiny, he insists the issue is not isolated. “It might be a bit more prominent in Germany, which isn’t a good thing, but it’s a bigger picture,” he continued. With that in mind, he also rejected calls to scale back events. “So I don’t really share the opinion of limiting events in Germany, to be honest.”
Wood reinforced that broader view, pointing to high-profile examples across the sport. “I think it’s more of a wider darts issue,” he said. “Because we’ve seen… I don’t think anyone got worse treatment than Luke Littler got in Rotterdam. And we’ve seen it at Ally Pally as well. When Scottish players are playing, Alan Soutar especially, when the whole crowd is against him, they’re not for his opponent, they’re against him, which is different.” Gayer agreed, but also highlighted how unpredictable some of these incidents can be. “I was a bit surprised about the whistling… I think it was Dave Chisnall against Gerwyn Price,” he said, noting the lack of any clear trigger. “There was no real trigger. It just started all of a sudden, very singular people. That was surprising.” The discussion ultimately centred on the difference between support and disruption, something both hosts agreed is key to the issue. “In Germany, it’s often more about being for the German player,” Gayer explained, pointing to the intent behind most crowd behaviour. However, he was clear that intent does not excuse everything, drawing a firm line in how that support is expressed. “Because chanting is fine. No one has an issue with that. But the whistling is where the line is crossed.” That distinction, in his view, reflects a shift from the atmosphere darts was once known for. “I think darts used to be a very friendly crowd sport. And I think that’s the level we need to get back to.”
