Luke Littler compares his abuse on the World Darts Championship to Wayne Rooney’s by England followers: ‘People are becoming bored of me’

Luke Littler has compared the abuse he received at the World Darts Championship to that which Wayne Rooney received during his football playing career.

The Nuke was booed multiple times on his way to winning a second consecutive title, including ahead of his walk-on for the final against Gian van Veen.

He had sparked some animosity after mocking Stephen Bunting for being knocked out in the third round and only inflamed it after telling booing fans that ‘you pay for my prize money’ after beating Rob Cross in the fourth round. 

It was, for him, reminiscent of when Rooney lashed out at booing fans after England’s dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup – something the Manchester United legend now regrets. 

Littler, 19, said: ‘I think people want to see new winners.

‘People are getting bored of me, Luke [Humphries] and Gian [van Veen] winning.

Luke Littler has compared himself to Wayne Rooney for the abuse he has suffered at the darts

The teenager it back at fans after they booed him at the World Darts Championship 

Wayne Rooney later admitted he regrets his post-match outburst towards fans after England’s draw with Algeria in 2010

‘Obviously, people can pick who they support, who they want to boo, but I am not going to do anything during the game or after it, I am just going to do my darts.  

‘You’ve seen it with Wayne Rooney. That clip at the World Cup.

‘I seen that on my TikTok literally a few hours after the Rob Cross game, which was pretty crazy.

‘I’ve learned from the Worlds, don’t react and just play my darts.’

Littler was speaking after another mixed response following his first-round victory over Mike De Decker in the first round of the Winmau World Masters.

De Decker missed a match dart for a 3-1 win and Littler fought back to avoid an embarrassment in Milton Keynes.

‘That was a tough one,’ Littler told ITV. ‘I just didn’t get going there. Mike deserved to win the second and third sets. I had to fight back and that’s what I done.

‘A little bit [of nerves] because it’s first to two [legs per set], not first to three. I got over the line, found about a bit of form and got the win.’

Littler did admit in December that he had ‘lost his head’ on the stage after hitting back at fans for their boos at Ally Pally.

‘I’m not bothered, really I’m not bothered,’ Littler said when asked about the boos immediately after beating Cross 4-2. 

‘Can I just say one thing? You guys paid for tickets and you’re paying for my prize money – so thank you for my money.

‘Thank you for booing me, come on!’

He later added: ‘I think I lost it, I think it is still on there [the stage].

‘It is one of those things, the fans, you have got to leave it all in there and give out the odd little ones for the checkouts and breaks of throw, but leave it all until that winning dart.

‘I think two years ago I would have started throwing my darts left handed, but that is how much I have grown and matured. People might not say I am mature, but try being in my position.

‘I think it is the first time I have been at the World Championships and the crowd haven’t wanted me to win. I expect the worst on New Year’s Day, whoever I do play.’