Luke Littler has revealed that he and Gian van Veen have not been in contact since their controversial Premier League confrontation, though the world champion believes it is time for everyone to move on.
The 19-year-old clashed with his Dutch rival during their quarter-final encounter on night nine in Manchester, where tensions flared after Van Veen, the Alexandra Palace runner-up, squandered a match dart.
Littler responded by celebrating towards the crowd before motioning for Van Veen to return to the oche.
When the Dutchman ultimately secured a 6-5 victory, Littler made a crying gesture and offered only a cursory handshake before departing the stage.
Van Veen subsequently branded Littler’s behaviour “out of order” and warned that their next encounter might not be “very friendly”.
The fallout continued at last week’s Brighton event, where Littler faced a hostile reception from the crowd.
His evening ended prematurely with a quarter-final defeat to Stephen Bunting, denying him an immediate opportunity to face Van Veen again.
Speaking to Online Darts at an exhibition in Bournemouth, Littler appeared unfazed by the ongoing controversy and keen to put the matter behind him.
Luke Littler has revealed that he and Gian van Veen have not been in contact since their controversial Premier League confrontation
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Littler said: “I wouldn’t say the fallout, it is what it is, it is done. Obviously the fans in Brighton didn’t let it go, I let it go.
“I think everyone needs to forget about it now. Me and Gian haven’t spoken, but I am sure we will and we can meet in the semi-finals next week in Rotterdam.”
Reflecting on events in Manchester, Littler said: “I’m looking up at the TV, I’m just thinking in my head, he’s not going to miss. Even if he gets a shot at the bull, Gian’s one of the best bull-hitters in the game.
“When he came inside the double 15, I looked up, had a drink of my water and then I did a little fist bump towards (my girlfriend) Faith (Millar) and her dad. That’s when the fans started on that side, they were all screaming, so then I was like that to them, ‘come on’, and then the whole arena.”
Luke Littler was booed in Brighton as he suffered a second successive Premier League quarter-final loss | PA
Littler added: “But there was no need for Gian to look back and stare at me.
“He’s still got a dart in hand so really he should just step back, look at the floor and then throw his last dart. I didn’t do it to him, I did it Faith and her dad, the whole crowd.
“What other people didn’t see was as I walked back round, I’m still looking that way, he’s put his darts down on the table.
“No one sees that. So really I think he’s the one who’s not doing his job, obviously being respectful.”
Luke Littler urged fans to move on after explosive row with Gian van Veen
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The teenager continued: “I think that is the first ever time I have seen someone put their darts down in front of my face, I was like ‘why?’.
“I came inside, called him a cry baby because there was no need for it and there was no need for him to put his darts down. Then when he won, I picked my darts up and said: ‘Well done, you got the win.’
“It is what it is, I am sure we will speak, but people need to forget about it.”
The Premier League heads to Rotterdam on Thursday, where the two players could potentially be drawn against each other in the semi-finals.
