Master of ceremonies Philip Brzezinski delivered a stern rebuke to a section of the crowd at the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen on Saturday night, March 14, 2026, after persistent whistling disrupted a crucial match between Stephen Bunting and Niko Springer. The incident forced referee Huw Ware to halt play during the deciding leg, with Bunting ultimately losing 6-5 to Springer, who advanced to the final day of the tournament.
Referee Huw Ware intervened mid-match, telling the crowd, "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 stoppage occurred at a pivotal moment, with the game tied and the outcome hanging in the balance. Post-match, Brzezinski took to the stage to address the issue directly, singling out four individuals from the audience of approximately 4,000.
Translated from German, Brzezinski stated, "There are three or four 'noses' (idiots) who ruined a great game with their whistling. To these four people out of 4,000, we say: 'You’re not welcome here; we don’t want this; we don’t want this.'" This strong stance highlights ongoing concerns about crowd behavior at European Tour events in Germany, where fans are often praised for their enthusiasm but occasionally criticized for disruptive actions like whistling.
