WEBSTER WARNS CROWD WHISTLING COULD DECIDE MAJOR MATCHES

MARK WEBSTER fears crowd whistling could end up deciding major matches.

The Sky Sports pundit has spoken out after Jonny Clayton was heckled at a crucial moment during his dramatic Premier League semi-final defeat to Luke Humphries at London’s O2 Arena.

The Ferret threatened a remarkable comeback before eventually falling to a 10-9 defeat, having battled back to force a deciding leg against Cool Hand.

World No5 Clayton had a golden opportunity to complete the turnaround and book his place in the final, only to narrowly miss double 16.

As Clayton stepped up to throw for the match-winning dart, a spectator attempted to put him off, leaving the Welshman visibly frustrated.

Former BDO World Champ Webster admitted it is becoming increasingly concerning to see fans disrupting matches at key moments.

He told the Double Tops Podcast: “I don’t think it’s certainly got better, has it?

“There’s been a couple of issues. I don’t think it was whistling but shouting out in Sheffield. [Stephen] Bunting and Gerwyn Price had to stop the game.

“But realistically, you can’t just keep doing that, can you? So, for Jonny, it was a key moment, wasn’t it?

“It was for the match, that, and it was to get in a final as well.

“And it’s just got to Jonny there. It is frustrating. You kind of, when we’re in comms, you hear it and you’re like, ‘Oh no, here we go.’

“You don’t want it to sort of decide games. I’m not saying it decided that game, but obviously it clearly bugged Jonny. We want it stopped.

“They are trying their best. They are stopping games on the European Tour.

“You’re kind of relying on people to sort of grass people up, and security, so hopefully it’ll start being phased out of the game.”

Clayton, 51, collects £110,000 for making the semi-finals, but that agonising miss prevented him from securing at least £60,000 more.

He returns to action this Friday at the Nordic Darts Masters and will face Andreas Harryson in round one.

Image by Taylor Lanning.