Gian van Veen has launched a scathing attack on Luke Littler following their fiery Premier League Darts quarter-final encounter in Manchester this evening.
The Dutch player had established a commanding 4-1 advantage before Littler fought back to level the contest at 5-5.
Tensions flared when both competitors were poised on a finishing double.
Van Veen accused the teenage sensation of celebrating when he narrowly missed double 15 on the inside.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
The Dutchman also criticised Littler, who performed a mocking, crying gesture during the heated exchange.
Van Veen ultimately secured victory after Littler squandered three attempts at a double to close out the match.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Van Veen detailed the confrontation: "I'm on 90 and miss double 15 on the inside, and then I see him cheering towards the crowd. I don't think that's normal.
"And then he makes that crying gesture too...He is a great darts player, but today he shows that he is not a good loser."
Gian van Veen has launched a scathing attack on Luke Littler
|PA
He added: "Cheering over an opponent's miss really annoys me. So that's why I gave him an angry look.
"That he then misses three darts at a double, that's his problem."
The triumph held particular significance for Van Veen, who was competing in his first Premier League fixture since undergoing surgery to have kidney stones removed.
He told Viaplay: "The last few weeks have been very tough. And to beat Luke Littler now feels really good. The way it happened, that doesn't really matter to me."
LATEST SPORT NEWS
Luke Littler's six-match winning streak came to an abrupt end amid heated scenes | PASky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle offered his analysis of the flashpoint.
He said: "I know exactly what happened. Gian van Veen went inside on D15 and Luke was happy about that so kind of gave it the Simon Whitlock 'well done'.
Mardle added: "You shouldn't do that. You have got to say that Gian handled it better."
Supporters took to social media to condemn Littler's behaviour during the clash.
Littler was seen throwing his arms into the air and making a crying gesture towards his Dutch opponent | PAOne fan wrote: "Of all people, he tries picking out Gian van Veen, the most innocent and respectful man on tour, what an absolute t****r Luke Littler is."
Another declared that Littler "hasn't covered himself in any glory at all there, behaved like a complete muppet."
Further criticism poured in, with one viewer branding his actions "pathetic" and urging him to "get a grip."
A fourth supporter remarked that the teenage star had "made himself look like a right mug" following the controversial scenes at the Manchester venue.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter