Michael van Gerwen speaks out after being attacked in bar and reveals what happened

Michael van Gerwen has spoken publicly for the first time since he was punched in the face at a bar in Den Bosch.

The three-time world darts champion, who competed in the latest night of the Premier League earlier this week, was celebrating King's Day in his home country when the incident took place on Monday.

Footage circulated on social media showed Van Gerwen exchanging words with another man, with the man then punching him in the face before attempting to leave the venue.

Van Gerwen could be seen moving towards his attacker before the footage ended.

His management team, MODUS Sports Limited, issued a statement prior to Thursday's Premier League night, confirming that the Dutchman 'did not provoke the situation and was not at fault'.

Read more: Michael van Gerwen attacked in bar fight as statement issued

Van Gerwen spoke to Dutch outlet Sportnieuws.nl late on Thursday night to give his full version of events and explain exactly what happened.

He also revealed that he will not be filing a police report over the incident, and that the perpetrator has apologised to him privately on Instagram.

"That man had clearly had too much to drink, and it felt to me his anger came out of nowhere," Van Gerwen said.

"When he seemed to be heading for the exit, he suddenly lashed out. Of course, it's not right that I went after him. But that was an automatic startled reaction.

"That man clearly knows he's in the wrong, because he apologised via Instagram.

"It is a shame that these images are coming out without any context. Otherwise, it was a quiet and pleasant evening in which nothing exciting happened.

"But anyway, it is what is."

Referencing an incident that took place last September, when he was involved in an altercation with another man in a kebab shop, Van Gerwen added: "Back then, it was stupidity on my part, but this time I hadn't spoken a word to him.

"Just because I am a famous person, people are quick to act very annoying," he said, in a separate interview with Shownieuws.

Van Gerwen was knocked out at the quarter-final stage of Premier League week 13, losing 6-3 to eventual finalist Luke Humphries.

He is in fourth place in the table with three regular nights remaining. The top four players qualify for Finals Night.