Mensur Suljovic has been referred to the Darts Regulatory Authority for inciting the crowd during his match against Ross Smith and using sexist language in an on-stage interview about the incident.
The Austrian encouraged the crowd to boo the Englishman during the last-match decider in their third-round encounter at the Swiss Darts Trophy on Sunday afternoon.
Later in an on-stage interview, he was asked about the incident and used an allegedly sexist comment to describe how Smith reacted.
Suljovic said: “Ross Smith is one of the best players in the world – what’s the guy complaining about? He’s got to play his game; otherwise, he’s welcome home.
“Women, women – they always complain, sorry. Sorry, you don’t. I fully accept him as one of the best darts players.
“Well, I’m going to roar the crowd a bit like I did in Germany – I need your support. I need you; I can’t do anything without you. Thank you, thank you very much!
“What’s he complaining about? When I’m in England, everybody’s against me; everywhere I go.
“And now he’s complaining all of a sudden? He might as well stay home.”
Suljovic apologizes for the incident
Suljovic apologized on Monday afternoon.
“I would like to comment again on my match against Ross Smith and the interview that followed.
“Emotions took over me at that moment. I wanted to keep the crowd behind me and I didn’t realize that Ross threw the match.
“In hindsight, I realize that the timing was unfortunate and it was perceived unfairly. I want to apologize to Ross for that.
“Ross is, in my opinion, one of the best darts players in the world and I have great respect for him and his achievements.
“My comment about women during the interview was completely inappropriate. I should never have said such a thing. I sincerely apologize to all women for these comments.
“Darts thrives on emotion, but fairness and respect are just as important. I let my emotions get the better of me yesterday.
“I’m sorry about that.”
In a statement, the PDC confirmed that “the matter on stage and in the interview has now been referred to the Darts Regulatory Authority” and had “no further comment”.
He explained the incident between Suljovic and Smith
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Suljovic hit back at accusations of playing deliberately slow against Cullen and explained why the referee let him off
Suljovic and Smith were locked in a best-of-11-foot clash at 5-5 on Sunday afternoon, Smith had two match darts when Suljovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume, giving the Englishman a chance to miss the target and steal the match.
Suljovic then hit a double-10 with the last dart to complete the check and seal the win.
His antics frustrated Smith, with the Englishman then going to X to share his thoughts after the defeat.
“I don’t blame Mensur for losing that game,” Smith wrote. “I missed two match darts. It’s as simple as that.
“Obviously, it’s impossible for me to know what he’s doing behind me when I’m away from the crowd’s response.
“Karma will come.”
Suljovic is no stranger to controversial events. The Austrian denied that he deliberately provoked Joe Cullen during the World Championships last December.
Cullen labeled his opponent’s pace of play as “cheating” and “not darts” after he was frustrated by the time he was taking to pick up and mark his darts, with referee Kirk Bevans even forced to intervene.
Webster: There’s a time and a place for that, and it was in “poor form.”
Sky Sports Darts’ Mark Webster on the incident between Smith and Suljovic (speaking before apologizing)…
“Obviously it was a bad form for Mensur Suljovic when it came to the weekend.
“I think every player can use the crowd to their advantage, but there’s a time to do that, right?
“It’s not when the player throws, especially not in match darts.
“Fair play to Ross, he came out and said he didn’t see it and it didn’t stop him, he still should have won the game.
“Mansoor did a bit of a double as well. Like I said, get the crowd involved, the players do that, it’s part of the game now, but in match darts and when he’s in match darts, it’s not about getting them on their feet.
“He’s used tactics in the past to slow players down, hasn’t he.
“Well, it’s not against the rules, but for Ross to play darts in a match is to punch the crowd when it’s not good.
“I’m sure the DRA will step in now, that’s not good sportsmanship is it? Right, he should be fined.
“Until he realizes he’s wrong, not that minute, but when he realizes he’s wrong, it’s time, isn’t he, the poorest.
“I’m sure he’ll realize that and he’ll be punished. He needs to learn from this and never do it again, not in match darts.”