Stephen Bunting understands Luke Littler’s Germany snub after crowd destroys match

Stephen Bunting can now see the logic behind Luke Littler’s aversion to playing darts in Germany.

As Bunting prepared to throw a dart during the final leg of his match against Niko Springer in Gottingen, a piercing whistle emerged from the notoriously partisan German crowd.

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The unsavoury incident prompted referee Huw Ware to step in and deliver an all-time telling off.

“I’ve asked politely once and I’ll say it politely, shut up please,” Ware said.

“We’re trying to have a game of darts up here.”

Bunting ultimately lost 6-5 in his European Tour clash against Springer, who made it all the way to the quarter-finals before he was beaten by Australia’s Damon Heta.

It was the first time ‘The Bullet’ had been on the wrong side of such whistling and is certainly not something he wants to experience again.

Bunting’s verdict on German crowd’s whistling

But it gave him an insight into why Littler, who withdrew from the tournament, is famously reluctant to partake in German events due to the crowd’s treatment.

“It happens from time to time,” Bunting said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“It doesn’t happen all the time and it’s a very small number of people who do it.

“But yeah, the whistling when you’re throwing for a double, when you’re travelling all that way to go over there, I understand now why Luke Littler doesn’t want to go over there.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever experienced it that bad and thankfully the referee stepped in and was able to continue the game.”

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Bunting won’t have to wait long to put his frustrations from Germany behind him as he returns to Premier League action on Thursday in Dublin, where a quarter-final clash against Littler awaits.

It is the latest event in what looms as a relentless schedule for Bunting, with some players, including Gerwyn Price, expressing their feelings that players need a breather.

Why Bunting won’t be slowing down despite Price’s call for rest

Even though Bunting does ‘get tired’, he knows what he signed up for, as did his peers.

“For me, you’re an elite sportsman, so you can pick and choose your tournaments,” Bunting said.

“You don’t have to play in everything, it’s down to your own personal preference.

“These players sometimes won’t do the tour but they’ll play exhibitions, so they’re always still playing all over the world.

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“Obviously I get tired as well, it is a long tour, but it is a rewarding tour. The more you play, the more money you get paid, so it’s beneficial to play as much as you can.

“Then you’re chasing the rankings as well, you need to keep your ranking as high as you possibly can. Which is important for me this year, because I’ve dropped down slightly, so I’ll be playing in near enough everything, to be honest.”