TAYLOR DEMANDS NEW RULE TO SHIELD LITTLER FROM VILE ABUSE
03/06/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
PHIL TAYLOR wants fans who abuse Luke Littler to be thrown out of darts venues immediately.
The 16-time world champion has leapt to the defence of the teenage sensation after Littler admitted he came close to quitting the sport following months of boos.
World No.1 Littler broke down in tears after regaining his Premier League title before revealing the abuse he received in venues across Europe had taken its toll.
Taylor knows better than most what it feels like to have a crowd turn against you.
The Power spent years being cast as the villain as fans backed his opponents but insists there should be zero tolerance for heckling.
He told SunSport: “We’ve all gone through that. Every professional player has gone through that for years.
“If it was any other walk of life then people would be arrested for it. The things we used to get called, you wouldn’t believe.
“I had to get a dictionary sometimes because they were using words I’d never heard of.
“The powers-that-be said, look, people have paid the money, let them enjoy themselves. But that isn’t enjoyment, it’s abuse.
“I never cried but I felt like jumping over the barrier and smashing somebody’s face in a few times, of course you do.
“Many times I’ve had to ask security: ‘Tell them to shut their mouths.’
“For somebody who’s like 17, 18 years old, it’s life-destroying. The lad is up there trying to make a living and entertain people.
“If Robbie Williams was on stage singing and getting abused… it wouldn’t happen.
“What’s the solution? Just throw them out. Hit them in the pocket.
“They pay for a ticket. If they start whistling and booing and doing whatever they feel like, then out you go. They won’t do it again.”
Taylor revealed he intends to speak to the Warrington ace about the situation.
He added: “When I see him, I’ll have a chat. Because it can go one of two ways now.
“It’ll either ruin his career or it’ll make him stronger.
“But he shouldn’t be abused and I do feel for the lad.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
