VAN GERWEN BLASTED OVER KEBAB SHOP SCUFFLE
30/09/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has come under fire after being caught up in a late-night kebab shop bust-up.
The three-time world champion was filmed in a heated altercation at a döner kebab joint after a night out on Saturday, with footage quickly going viral.
‘Might Mike’ had to be restrained by several men before tensions eased.
Former pro and close friend Vincent van der Voort was quick to cool things down, describing the clash as little more than a misunderstanding.
He said: “It happened after a night out. I’ll try to explain it a bit, but when Michael comes in, things get heated. A lot of fuss.
“But it’s also true: he’s a famous Dutch person. So, he gets yelled at a lot.
“It’s busier in that place then, and it was also a lot of stress for the staff. It’s all busy, everyone needs help, and at some point, there’s a bit of miscommunication.
“The man behind the counter thought, ‘I’m done with this.’ He attacked him. Everyone got involved, and they immediately went outside.
“Then the nephew came out, and they talked about it right away.
“There wasn’t really a fight. Of course, you end up in that situation.”
Van der Voort admits he is worried his countryman isn’t giving darts his full attention.
He added: “Everyone was playing a tournament in Switzerland, and he was getting some rest.
“Getting some rest doesn’t mean going out late into the night and eating a shawarma sandwich or Turkish pizza.
“You want him to fully dedicate himself to darts and his children. That’s what you want ideally. But how he spends his free time, I have no say in.
“However, if this happens again, it’s a shame what’s happening. I’m not concerned about the publicity, but him being away for two days means he’s not fully focused on his work.
“Of course, someone can go out and have a party once in a while. That’s all fine, but there are three very important Pro Tours coming up.
“You hope he’s busy training and preparing for that.”
Despite the storm off the oche, MVG is still enjoying flashes of success on it.
World No. 3 Van Gerwen lifted the German Darts Grand Prix in April and ended his two-year wait for a major title by beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the World Series of Darts Finals earlier this month.
But Van Gerwen’s position in the Players Championship Order of Merit is already a huge concern.
47-time major winner Van Gerwen sits 103rd — a staggering £9,500 off the top 64 cut-off for Minehead — meaning he has serious work to do to qualify.
The 36-year-old heads into three must-play Players Championship events in Leicester this week, battling to secure his spot at the TV event later this year.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
