Darts star Nathan Aspinall has called for fans who whistle during major tournaments to be banned for five years, as frustration grows over the disruption caused to players. The Englishman, who faces Kevin Doets in the last 32 of the World Darts Championship on Monday evening, has demanded action after becoming increasingly irritated by whistling during crucial moments.
Unlike tennis and golf, where silence is expected during play, darts is played in rowdy atmospheres with alcohol-fuelled crowds. However, whistling has become a particular issue, with players often targeted as they attempt vital doubles. German player Ricardo Pietreczko, who was eliminated from the Worlds, previously expressed his anger after being whistled and booed during his match against Dave Chisnall.
Aspinall echoed Pietreczko's sentiments, telling The Sun: 'I've said in EuroTours, in my on-stage interviews, will you just stop whistling, enjoy the darts, stop being muppets.' He added that speaking out may encourage fans to continue, but staying silent is not an option. 'How do you monitor 10,000 people from sticking their fingers in their mouth to whistle? So, what can be done? I think the people that get caught shouldn't just get kicked out, they should get banned for say five years.'
The 33-year-old believes tougher penalties would deter offenders. 'Something where they're going to feel the effects of what they've done. Then, once a few of them start doing it, hopefully they'll go: "I'm absolutely gutted, I can't go to the darts, I got a five-year ban from whistling, trust me, don't do it." He warned that missing a single dart due to whistling could cost a player the match, calling for bans to change behaviour.
