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- Former PDC pro Matt Edgar questions whether Phil Taylor unintentionally started the whistling trend.
- Darts creator Charlie Murphy says crowd whistling in Nottingham was “really loud and prominent.”
- Johnny Clayton produced another Premier League masterclass despite playing through gout.
Crowd Behaviour Sparks Debate in Premier League Darts
The issue of crowd whistling during darts matches has come under renewed scrutiny following Night Six of the Premier League in Nottingham.
Speaking to OLBG, former PDC professional Matt Edgar and darts creator Charlie Murphy discussed the growing problem after attending the event.
Murphy said the whistling was clearly audible inside the arena, particularly during crucial checkout moments.
"I do have to mention the whistling though. It really stood out to me last night,” Murphy said.
“It was really loud and really prominent, especially on doubles. It was annoying.”
The discussion comes amid increasing criticism from players and pundits about crowd behaviour during televised darts events.
Calls for Fans to Stop Whistling
Murphy said the whistling disrupted the experience for both players and spectators.
“Please stop it. Just stop it. You're ruining it for everybody,” he said.
He added that fans should keep the traditional atmosphere and pantomime elements but avoid interfering during throws.
“I'm all for the pantomime side of things. Do it on the walk on. But when the game is on, it's professional sport.”
Murphy also suggested stronger action could discourage the behaviour.
“If someone was caught whistling and they were clearly thrown out, I think it would act as a deterrent.”
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Edgar Suggests Phil Taylor Moment May Have Influenced Fans
Former PDC professional Matt Edgar questioned whether the origins of the trend could go back to comments made by 16-time world champion Phil Taylor earlier in his career.
Edgar suggested that once Taylor publicly criticised the noise, some fans may have adopted it as a way to get under players’ skin.
“I might be giving someone a headline here, but is Phil Taylor to blame for this?” Edgar said.
“I remember an interview where he said the one thing he couldn't stand was the high pitched whistling.”
He believes the moment may have unintentionally encouraged spectators to use the tactic more often.
“From that moment it felt like people thought, right, we've got to get on his back now.”
Johnny Clayton Impresses Despite Injury
The discussion came after Johnny Clayton delivered another outstanding performance in Nottingham, becoming the first player to win multiple nights in this season’s Premier League.
Murphy revealed Clayton was limping due to gout during the event but still produced a top-level display.
“He was suffering with gout and limping,” Murphy said.
“I put a tweet out saying ‘Clayton's limping, watch him do well here’, and he went and won the night.”
Edgar added that small distractions can sometimes help players stay mentally relaxed during tournaments.
“Distractions are good. One of the things I struggled with was living and breathing darts all the time.”
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Rock Struggling for Premier League Win
Another talking point from the night was Josh Rock’s difficult run in the Premier League.
Edgar noted that Rock’s performance level in Nottingham was below the standard required to win at this level.
“At that standard in the Premier League, you're never going to win a game.”
Despite the struggles, both analysts believe Rock still has the ability to compete at the top.
“He is going to struggle right now, but he is good enough to win a night,” Edgar said.
Premier League Atmosphere Still Strong
Despite the whistling issue, Murphy said the overall atmosphere in Nottingham was still excellent.
“The atmosphere was electric. Everyone I was with absolutely loved it.”
He added that attending the event also reveals aspects fans don’t see on television, including crowd singalongs and sponsor-led entertainment during breaks.
With the Premier League continuing across multiple venues over the coming weeks, the debate around crowd behaviour may remain a talking point for players and fans alike.
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