Gian van Veen has made it clear that he sees no reason to sit down with Luke Littler to smooth over the tension that erupted during Night Nine of the Premier League in Manchester. The Dutch prodigy, who clinched a contentious victory in early April, recalls how Littler’s angry reaction followed a dramatic deciding leg in which his opponent turned his back while throwing match darts. Van Veen told Sky Sports that Littler was "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a gesture that prompted him to stare directly at the Englishman.
Littler then missed his own match darts at double and ultimately lost the encounter. Ahead of this week’s Premier League Darts event in Rotterdam, Littler finally offered his side of the story on live Sky Sports coverage, explaining that his celebration was directed at his girlfriend and his father, not at van Veen. He also claimed he called the Dutch No 1 a "cry baby" after van Veen put his darts down while the leg was still in progress, and he added that there was "no need" for van Veen to stare at him before he had even thrown his three darts.
Despite hearing Littler’s version, van Veen’s stance has not shifted. He reiterated that he holds no hard feelings but also sees no need for a conversation. "It is a difficult one. For myself, not really – I don’t need a conversation.
He said his piece the other day. I still have the same view as I had two weeks ago when it all happened," he said. "If he wants to bury the hatchet, fine.
I have no hard feelings towards him and I don’t know how it is the other way around, but we’ll see how it goes. He has his opinion and he is entitled to it. I still have mine. I have looked back at it, I have seen the videos and I still stand by my opinion.
It is what it is and we just have to go forward with it." Van Veen has been at the centre of darting headlines over the past few weeks. While he enjoys the occasional aggression that adds spice to the sport, he prefers to watch from the sidelines rather than be directly involved. "I enjoy it, but only if I’m not involved.
I think that’s the best for me," he explained. "I think it’s good for the sport to have a bit of needle here and there, but you never want to be the one getting pricked." Looking ahead, van Veen expressed excitement about the upcoming match against Littler, acknowledging that his opponent will likely come out even more fired up. "He will probably average 110 or 112 against me, but that’s how good he is.
I am especially looking forward to playing him next, hopefully tomorrow. For sure we can be friends in the future – there are no hard feelings on my side. It all happened in the heat of the moment and he has his opinion, I have mine, that’s how it goes." Michael van Gerwen weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that the media has blown the incident out of proportion.
The "Green Machine" noted that if such a spat were truly significant, he and Phil Taylor would be making headlines every week after their own fiery exchanges. "There have been a million incidents," van Gerwen said.
"People love to make a story out of it, to write about it and turn it into something bigger than it is. I’ve done countless interviews over the years and I know what people want to hear, but this is absolutely nothing. Nothing really happened.
Otherwise, I could be in the papers with Phil Taylor every week. It’s just emotions – it happens." The debate was also a focal point on the "Love The Darts" podcast, where hosts Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy dissected the spat.
Murphy argued that the key is to "park it and move on," noting that the incident seemed to linger into the following week and could affect Littler’s performance. Bridge added that Littler enjoys playing the villain role, likening him to a WWE antagonist, and that the crowd’s reaction—booing and demanding photos—doesn’t necessarily reflect his character. He expressed concern that the negative atmosphere could impact Littler’s average, citing his 83.0 against Stephen Bunting in Brighton as an example of a dip possibly linked to the controversy. Littler himself anticipated a chilly reception in Rotterdam, expecting the Dutch crowd to be hostile.
In an interview with Online Darts he said, "I’m expecting the worst anyway. When I go to Liverpool, Leeds, I just expect the worst. If the crowd isn’t that bad, you take it on the chin, but I expect the worst." He recalled being booed in Brighton and simply shrugging it off, wondering why the incident lingered a week later.
"In Rotterdam I’ll give it a bit if I win. I’m sure I’ll get booed. I’m learning, I just play my game and see how it plays out," he added. Littler also stressed his determination to improve, noting that he hadn’t prepared much for Brighton because of the hostile fans, but that he intends to focus on scoring points and securing nightly wins.
He referenced Jonny Clayton’s comment about chasing the top four, saying, "I’ll definitely come alive and hopefully I can come alive these next few weeks." For van Veen, this will be his first season in the Premier League, but he is no stranger to the Rotterdam Ahoy venue, having attended the inaugural Premier League night there in 2016. He reminisced about watching Raymond van Barneveld’s iconic walk‑on as a youngster and expressed excitement about experiencing that moment himself as the Dutch No 1 and world No 3. "My only hope for Rotterdam was not to play Michael in the quarters so I could experience it on my own.
Thankfully it didn’t happen, so I can walk out on that stage and it’s a dream coming true," van Veen said. The Premier League continues to travel across the English Channel, with Rotterdam hosting another crucial night of action.
Van Veen will host Luke Humphries on his first home‑soil Premier League night, while Michael van Gerwen faces Jonny Clayton. Luke Littler will clash with Gerwyn Price in a battle that could shape the top of the table, and Stephen Bunting will look to secure a Play‑Offs spot against Josh Rock. Points are awarded each night – five for the winner, three for the runner‑up, and two for each semi‑finalist – to determine the top four who will advance to the Finals Night at The O2 in London on 28 May. Fans can follow the drama on Sky Sports, stream the matches via NOW, and stay updated through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, and analysis.
The season promises more high‑stakes darts, intense rivalries, and the occasional needle‑sharp exchange that keeps the sport vibrant and compelling.