Darts Star Says PDC Should Pull Events From Germany Amid Luke Littler Withdrawals

Jonny Clayton has claimed that the PDC should stop staging ProTour events in Germany amid Luke Littler's mass withdrawals from the events staged in the country.

Littler was critical of German crowds after they booed him during events in Berlin and Munich earlier this year.

In April, he announced on Instagram that he would not be playing in Germany until October, adding: "I am glad to say that."

He subsequently pulled out of a European Tour event due to a scheduling conflict in May, but did return to Germany to compete in June's World Cup of Darts.

His next appearance in the country will be at the German Darts Championship this month.

Littler hasn't appeared in any of the eight Players Championship events held in the German city of Hildesheim this season.

The events have been notable for a number of other high-profile withdrawals, with Clayton himself choosing to skip the most recent two PC tournaments held there last month.

The Welshman has now called on the PDC to stop holding ProTour events in Germany - but has a different complaint to Littler.

He explained: "Where I am in the rankings, world number six, I think from four to maybe eight or nine, we're all close together. If you want to stay in that top 10, you basically have to do everything.

"I didn't go to Germany for ProTours in Hildesheim, simply because I don't think we should have them there. But those are the only ones I've missed [this season]."

ProTour events are held exclusively behind closed doors by the PDC, with Clayton's comments relating to the location and travelling involved rather than crowds.

He is not the only top darts player to have spoken out over the past 18 months.

Joe Cullen wrote on Twitter last year that while he enjoyed playing in front of German fans in European Tour events, he argued there was little point in playing PC tournaments there due to the behind closed doors nature of the events.

"Germany is a huge market and an amazing place to play darts (with a crowd)," he said. "I can't see the value in having pro tours there as there's no ticket sales?!?!"