Gian van Veen has made it clear that he sees no reason to sit down with Luke Littler and try to smooth over the disagreement that erupted during Night Nine of the Premier League in Manchester. The Dutch player, who emerged victorious in a contentious match in early April, says he has no desire for a post‑match conversation to "bury the hatchet".
The incident in question occurred when Littler, after missing his own match darts at double, became visibly upset as van Veen turned toward him while throwing his decisive darts. Van Veen later told Sky Sports that Littler’s celebration aimed at the crowd was "out of order" and that his reaction forced him to stare back at the Englishman. Littler, in turn, missed his own finishing darts and ultimately lost the leg.
Ahead of this week’s Premier League Darts showdown in Rotterdam, Littler finally offered his side of the story during a live Sky Sports broadcast at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
He maintained that his celebratory gesture was directed at his girlfriend and his father, not at van Veen, and he labelled the Dutchman a "cry baby" for putting his darts down before the leg had officially concluded. Littler also argued that van Veen had no right to stare at him while he still had three darts to throw.
Despite hearing Littler’s perspective, van Veen’s stance has not shifted. He reiterated that there are no hard feelings on his part, but he also stressed that he does not feel compelled to engage in a dialogue about the episode. "It’s a difficult one. For myself, not really – I don’t need a conversation," he said.
"He said his piece the other day. I still have the same view as I had two weeks ago when it all happened." Van Veen added that if Littler wishes to “bury the hatchet,” that is fine, but he remains indifferent. "I have no hard feelings towards him and I don’t know how it is the other way around, but we will see how it goes.
He has his opinion and he is entitled to it. I still have mine," he explained.
He also mentioned that he has reviewed the video footage repeatedly and continues to stand by his original assessment of the incident. "It is what it is and we just have to go forward with it," he concluded. The Dutchman has been a central figure in the recent darts narrative, enjoying the drama that surrounds the sport but preferring to stay on the periphery rather than become a direct participant in any controversy.
"I enjoy it, but only if I’m not involved. I think that’s the best for me," van Veen said, suggesting that a little tension can be good for darts, yet he would rather remain an observer.
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," van Veen noted. He also hinted at the possibility of friendship after the competition, stating, "For sure we can be friends in the future. Like I said, there is no hard feelings from my side." Michael van Gerwen, often referred to as the "Green Machine," weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that the media has blown the spat out of proportion.
He compared the situation to his own historic clashes with Phil Taylor, which generated far more press coverage. "People love to make a story out of these things, but this is absolutely nothing. Nothing really happened. Otherwise, I could be in the paper with Phil Taylor every week," van Gerwen remarked, emphasizing that heated moments are part of the sport’s fabric.
The debate was also a topic on the "Love The Darts" podcast, where hosts Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy dissected the incident. Murphy argued that the key is to move past the episode and focus on performance, while Bridge described Littler as a "WWE‑style villain" whose antics rarely affect the overall competition. Bridge added that the Dutch crowd’s reaction to Littler is largely theatrical, noting that 99.9 % of those booing would happily pose for a photo if approached.
Littler, for his part, prepared himself for a chilly reception in Rotterdam, expecting the Dutch audience to be hostile based on previous experiences in Liverpool, Leeds, and Brighton. He told Online Darts that he anticipates the worst but will shrug it off, focusing on his game.
"I’ll definitely get booed, but I’m learning. I just play my game and see how it plays out," he said.
He also reflected on his recent form, acknowledging a dip in his average after a loss to Stephen Bunting in Brighton and expressing a desire to regain momentum. "I can be as good as I want.
I didn’t have much preparation for Brighton. I didn’t want to be there because of the fans, but that’s going to happen. I’m sure this week will be the same," Littler explained, adding that he hopes to add more points to his league tally and climb back into the top four.
Van Veen, now in his inaugural Premier League season, is no stranger to the Rotterdam Ahoy venue, having attended the inaugural night in 2016 when Raymond van Barneveld made his iconic walk‑on. He recalled the excitement of that evening and expressed that stepping onto the same stage as a Dutch No 1 and world No 3 is a dream come true. "My only hope for Rotterdam was not to play Michael in the quarters so I could experience it on my own. Thankfully that didn’t happen, so I’ll get to walk out on that stage and discuss the feeling with Michael," he said.
The Premier League continues to travel across the English Channel, with Rotterdam hosting another pivotal night of action. Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen will face Luke Humphries, while home hero Michael van Gerwen takes on Jonny Clayton. Meanwhile, Luke Littler will clash with Gerwyn Price, and Stephen Bunting hopes to secure a spot in the play‑offs 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 May 28.
Fans can follow the drama via Sky Sports, NOW, or the BetMGM Premier League streaming service, and stay updated through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, and analysis.