Luke Littler arrived 45 minutes late for a Premier League Darts media event (Image: Getty)
The have been told to fine for arriving late to a media event. Former professional Dennis Priestley believes was right to be irked by the teenager’s poor punctuality.
Van Gerwen urged the PDC to late for an event previewing this year’s . The 18-year-old before rushing to the Belfast venue.
Stephen Bunting was also unimpressed, claiming that the other seven participants had been left “frozen” while waiting for Littler to join a photoshoot.
Now, Priestley has told : “Luke Littler should’ve been fined for turning up late for the photocall and that would be the right thing to do, it’s a learning experience for him, the fine should be automatic.
“If you are late to your own event that is one thing but when there are seven other players as well as staff and media there that have all made the effort, it isn’t good enough no matter what your age is.
“Michael van Gerwen is right to complain, I just hope he took Littler to one side and did things properly and calmly as well as speaking to the media.
“The is a team game in the sense that you are all together for so long and you need to stick together, if it was someone like Gerwyn Price you think he may have been given a fine and it should be no different for Littler.”
It comes after Van Gerwen corrected an initial belief among reporters that Littler had been only 25 minutes late. The four-time world champion – who list this year’s final against Littler – has asked for the the world No. 2 to be treated as an adult.
Michael van Gerwen was unimpressed by Luke Littler’s poor punctuality ahead of Premier League Darts (Image: Getty)
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MVG said: “Forty-five minutes late, you mean? They need to stop treating him like a baby. He’s not a baby anymore; he’s 18 years old now.
“It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way. It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions. Simple as that. If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t mind! But seven other people are waiting for him. That’s not very nice, is it?”
Littler will attempt to defend his crown this year, with the first event kicking off in Belfast tonight. The play-offs will take place on May 29.