Stephen Bunting releases statement after darts referee gets involved in ugly incident

Stephen Bunting has spoken out after PDC referee Huw Ware was forced to lash out out the crowd during a European Tour match.

On Saturday night, Bunting faced home favourite Niko Springer in Gottingen, Germany as part of the the 2026 European Darts Trophy event.

Over the years, darts fans in Germany have earned a reputation for being particularly disruptive and loud as they support their players and distract their opponents.

So much so that some of the best players in the world, including no.1 Luke Littler, have admitted that they will actively avoid playing in Germany because of the fans.

And during the match with Springer, Bunting learned exactly why Littler was among the players to withdraw from the tournament in Germany.

Throughout the match, Bunting was subject to loud whistles and jeering from the home crowd, forcing referee Ware to step in during a crucial final leg decider.

"I've asked politely once and I'll say it politely, shut up please. We're trying to have a game of darts up here," the PDC referee sternly asked.

The crowd appeared to react positively, with many of them applauding his request, but it wasn't enough to help Bunting win the match as he went on to lose the leg.

Stephen Bunting releases statement addressing controversial crowd behaviour

Shortly after the match, Bunting released a lengthy statement on social media criticising how the fans had behaved in Germany.

The world no.7 congratulated Springer for the win, but admitted that he had been really hurt by the whistling, claiming it had spoiled the game.

"The dedication we make as dart players never gets seen," he wrote.

"We set off from Nottingham on Friday morning 7:30am to make sure we was in Gottingen and traveled via Frankfurt and a 2 hour train to make sure we was there after a premier league night in Nottingham.

"I have great support from my family who I’m away from constantly, from my sponsors and management and generally from 99% of the fans.

"I never moan about defeats or cry about them but feel really hurt tonight even though it was a small minority of people. To boo and whistle at important times through any match isn’t acceptable and if you want to do that then go to a football match.

"Nothing at all against @nikosp180 he played a great match but the whistling spoilt the game. Good luck to Niko for the rest of the tournament.

"I understand why certain players don’t want to travel over here for the whistling but like I said it isn’t all the time and I love my fans especially the genuine ones in Germany.

"Thanks guys and see you soon hopefully x I’ve had many great nights in Germany including one of my most famous ones in Berlin and I look forward to seeing all the genuine fans there for that night. Xx"

Meanwhile Springer continued to upset the odds as the no.53 went on to beat no.14 Ross Smith ahead of his upcoming meeting with Australia's Damon Heta.