German darts player Niko Springer has apologised and admitted feeling "ashamed" following crowd disruption during his European Darts Trophy second-round victory over Stephen Bunting in Göttingen.
The world number 53 progressed to the third round with a narrow 6-5 triumph, but the contest was marred by spectators whistling and jeering in an apparent attempt to distract his English opponent.
Speaking after the match, Springer acknowledged the unsporting conduct from sections of the home support.
He said: "I have to say honestly: what happened at the end wasn't entirely fair towards Stephen. I'm really sorry about that. I felt a bit ashamed. Overall the fans were really incredible. But like you said, there were a few people who ruined the match a little bit."
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The situation reached boiling point when the match entered a deciding leg at 5-5, prompting referee Huw Ware to intervene directly.
The experienced Welsh official, having already requested respectful behaviour from spectators, abandoned his usual calling duties to address the troublemakers.
Ware said: "I've asked politely once and I'll say it impolitely: shut up please. Trying to have a game of darts up here."
Following the match, MC Philip Brzezinski also confronted the disruptive element in the crowd.
Bunting expressed his distress at the treatment he received
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He announced: "There's three to four people who, through their whistling, destroyed an amazing game, to those four people from four thousand we'll say: you are not welcome here. We don't want this."
Brzezinski's remarks drew applause from both Springer and the majority of the approximately 4,000 spectators present.
Bunting expressed his distress at the treatment he received, despite acknowledging it came from only a handful of individuals.
The former BDO world champion wrote on social media: "I never moan about defeats or cry about them, but feel really hurt tonight even though it was a small minority of people.
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The situation reached boiling point when the match entered a deciding leg at 5-5, prompting referee Huw Ware to intervene directly
|X/OfficialPDC
"To boo and whistle at important times through any match isn't acceptable and if you want to do that then go to a football match.
"Nothing at all against Springer, he played a great match, but the whistling spoilt the game."
Bunting wished the German well for the remainder of the tournament.
The incident in Göttingen, in central Germany, follows a similar disruption at the Premier League event in Nottingham just two days earlier, where both Luke Littler and Luke Humphries faced whistling from spectators.
Five things to know about the sport of darts | PALittler, the reigning world champion, responded with a theatrical celebration towards the crowd during his quarter-final against Gerwyn Price, whilst Humphries cupped his ears at supporters after securing his semi-final victory.
The world number one's absence from this weekend's European Darts Trophy has been noted, with the 2025 Premier League Berlin night winner Bunting acknowledging why some players choose to avoid German events.
He said: "I understand why certain players don't want to travel over here for the whistling. But like I said, it isn't all the time and I love my fans - especially the genuine ones in Germany."
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