PDC TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT LITTLER FROM ONLINE ABUSE
01/06/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
PDC chief Matt Porter says talks have been held with social media platforms over safeguarding darts stars online.
The move comes after world champion Luke Littler admitted he had considered walking away from the sport following months of relentless abuse from fans both inside arenas and online.
World No1 Littler endured boos and heckles throughout this year’s Premier League campaign in several different venues.
Despite lifting the trophy last Thursday, the teenage sensation confessed there were moments when he told partner Faith: “I can’t do it anymore.”
Littler has also been targeted on social media, with some critics taking things far beyond acceptable levels.
Now Porter says the PDC are actively exploring ways to shield players from the worst of the online attacks.
He told talkSPORT: “There’s no doubt social media is a huge contributing factor to not just darts, but any sports person’s mentality at the moment.
“Everybody deals with it in a different way.
“I think it can be used in a real positive. You can engage with your fans, you can use it as a platform to promote yourself and your sponsors.
“But obviously if you’re going on there and reading comments from some idiot who’s lost a £5 bet and wants all these terrible things to happen to you and your family, then it’s not particularly helpful or constructive.
“We’ve had some conversations with a platform, there’s various filter platforms that can come in to place for people with high-profile accounts to help them through that time and make sure they don’t see things that can cause ill effects on their mental state.
“I think that’s increasingly important, but it’s obviously sad that we’re in that position where we have to look at that sort of thing.”
It is not just Littler who has been affected, with Stephen Bunting left in tears during a World Championship press conference as he opened up on the online abuse he has received.
Meanwhile, Nathan Aspinall revealed last year that he stepped away from social media after being bombarded with abusive messages following his selection for the Premier League.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
