Luke Littler says he was grabbed outside Prague hotel and rejects accusation of 'bad behaviour'
The 18-year-old darts star says a supporter pulled him from behind as he arrived for the Czech Darts Open and has fired back after being criticised by another spectator.
Luke Littler said he was grabbed from behind by a supporter outside his Prague hotel after arriving late for the Czech Darts Open and has rejected a separate spectator's accusation that his conduct was poor.
The 18-year-old posted on Instagram that he had stopped to take photographs with fans shortly after checking in late on Friday night. "Just came to the hotel in Prague got a few pictures baring in mind it's 20 past 11 here it's busy so got a few pictures with a few people and as I've gone to walk off someone has grabbed me and wanted a picture, you don't grab someone just ask nice how hard is it," Littler wrote.
Littler added that a man had approached him and his father and shouted at them, accusing Littler of "bad behaviour" and saying he was "no better than anyone else." He responded in the post: "DON'T GRAB ME FROM BEHIND, because that's bad behavior, not mine." The post did not identify the individuals involved.
The incident occurred as Littler arrived in the Czech capital to compete in the £30,000 Czech Darts Open. He is scheduled to face Scotland's Cameron Menzies in his opening match. Organisers and local authorities did not immediately comment on the episode.
Littler, who rose to prominence as a teenager, has attracted significant attention from supporters at tour events. Encounters between high-profile players and fans around hotels and venues have occasionally led to tensions, and players commonly ask for respectful behaviour and to be approached politely for photographs and autographs.
The Czech Darts Open forms part of the European Tour and carries ranking points and prize money as players prepare for the remainder of the season. Littler's opening-round fixture will determine whether he progresses further in the event and faces higher-seeded opposition later in the weekend.
No reports have emerged of injuries from the confrontation, and Littler's post was released publicly on his verified social media account. Further details about the identity of the spectator who accused him and any follow-up from event security or police were not available at the time of publication.