PDC Refers Mensur Suljovic to Darts Regulation Authority Over Crowd Incitement and Sexist Remarks

The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) will determine whether Mensur Suljovic faces fines, a reprimand, or a suspended sanction after the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) formally referred the Austrian player for disciplinary review. The referral follows Suljovic's conduct during and after his third-round match at the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel. The independent governing body must now assess whether his actions meet the threshold for misconduct under Article 3 of its Code of Conduct.[2][4]

The controversy stems from a tense last-leg decider against Ross Smith on Sunday afternoon. With the match tied and Smith requiring double 18 to secure the victory, Suljovic was seen actively waving his arms to gesture to the crowd, encouraging the audience to make noise while his opponent was composing himself on the oche. Smith subsequently missed two match darts, allowing Suljovic to step in, take out 55, and clinch a 6-5 win.[2][3][4]

Following the missed doubles, Suljovic clenched his fist in celebration and exchanged a brief, cold handshake with the Englishman. Smith later took to social media to voice his frustration, stating that while he did not blame his opponent for his own missed darts, he felt Suljovic had acted inappropriately behind his back. Smith branded the Austrian an "absolute helmet" and declared that "karma will come around."[2][4]

The situation escalated during a post-match interview following Suljovic's subsequent 6-1 quarter-final victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode. When asked by tournament master of ceremonies Philip Brzezinski about Smith's complaints, Suljovic defended his right to engage the crowd but drew widespread condemnation for his phrasing. "Look, Ross Smith is one of the best players in the world. What is the guy complaining about?" Suljovic said, adding, "Women complain, sorry. You don't do that."[2][3][4]

Suljovic further justified his stage antics by claiming he needed the audience's backing. "Okay, I got the crowd going a little, just like in Germany. I need the support. I can't do anything without you," he added during the interview. The remarks prompted immediate backlash from pundits and fans, overshadowing his run to his first European Tour semi-final since 2021.[3][4]

Former major winner and commentator Paul Nicholson stated that Suljovic had "crossed a line" and that such actions have "no place in darts." Nicholson warned that failing to actively discourage this type of gamesmanship could cause "all hell to break loose with the etiquette of our sport." Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster echoed the sentiment, asserting that Suljovic should be fined for poor sportsmanship.[3][4]

On Monday, Suljovic issued a public apology via his Instagram account, addressing both the gamesmanship and the interview. He admitted that his emotions got the better of him and claimed he had not properly realised Smith was throwing for the match when he engaged the crowd. Calling his timing "unfortunate" and "perceived as unfair," he apologised directly to his opponent.[2][4]

He also fully retracted his post-match remarks, writing that his comment about women during the interview was completely inappropriate. "I should never have said something like that. I would like to sincerely apologise to all women for those remarks," Suljovic stated. He added that while darts thrives on emotion, fairness and respect are just as important.[2][4]

The DRA will now review the incidents under its established disciplinary framework. The authority must decide whether Suljovic's actions fall under serious, minor, or non-minor misconduct, the latter of which covers disruptive behaviour—an offence that saw only one recorded case between 2023 and 2026. Under Article 18 of the rulebook, exact details of the PDC's investigation will only be made public following the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings if a punishment is handed down.[4]