Luke Littler was once again subject to boos as he made his entrance during Premier League darts – with the Leeds crowd giving him a hostile reception
Luke Littler was again booed during Premier League Darts as he made his entrance at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
The Manchester United superfan had expected a hostile reaction across the pennines thanks to his footballing allegiances. And from the moment Pitbull’s hit ‘Greenlight’ hit the reigning World Champion was met with a chorus of boos.
And the boos, and resulting Michael van Gerwen chant, prompted Sky Sports host Emma Paton to joke he might be used to it by now – with Littler subject to a number of boos in recent weeks when he takes to the Premier League stage.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
“Another arena full of grown men busting a lung to boo Littler… The kids got a lot of haters out there and it’s absolute madness considering how he’s elevated the sport,” one fan fumed.
“Leeds doing me proud by the boos littler is getting,” a second shared. As a third said: “Littler getting pelters from the Leeds crowd tonight!”
And another added: “Littler getting booed…love it!”
The Leeds crown will be firmly behind their adopted son Luke Humphries – who, despite not being from the Yorkshire city, is named in honour of its club.
Speaking in 2024, he said: “I think everyone knows I am named after the club, that’s no secret. I am not from Leeds, but the club really was in me from birth.
“It was great in the early years of my life, then we had a patch of hard times, but I really feel we’re now on the up as a club again despite what happened last year.”
His dad, a Leeds superfan, named him [L]eeds [U]nited [K]ings of [E]urope.
Speaking ahead of the evening, Humphries said: “The good thing for me is I need these points more than ever.The last two years I didn’t really need them. It might make me up for it even more than I usually am.
“Out of anyone that’s ever played in the last two years at their home venue, I’m the only one that’s actually done well to be fair!”