‘Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking ‘pub player' slur
Full one-eighty 'Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking 'pub player' slur
DARTS STAR Pero Ljubic has defended rival Michael van Gerwen after the ex-world champ labelled him a "pub player".
The outburst caused outrage in the media - but Ljubic has now come to the aid of his Dutch opponent.
4
Van Gerwen appeared to slam his opponent following a nervy victory last week in Poland
Credit: Getty
4
Croatian thrower Pero Ljubic does not hold a grudge against the Dutchman
Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78
Van Gerwen's insults included calling his opponent a "pub player" as well as saying "[Ljubic] won a few legs and it feels like his birthday".
However - speaking to Polish darts outlet Okiem Darta - Ljubic downplayed the severity of Van Gerwen's jibes.
The Croatian revealed that Van Gerwen apologised for his comments immediately - and asked people not to leap to conclusions.
He said: "Michael apologised to me straight away. We know each other well, and I know he meant no harm.
READ MORE ON DARTS
FLIGHT TROUBLE Darts duo suffer nightmare start to Baltic Sea Darts Open amid BA blunder
"Don't be too quick to judge – emotions can take over in moments like that.'
Van Gerwen and Ljubic were drawn against each other in the Poland Darts Masters last week.
Van Gerwen - ranked third on the PDC Order of Merit - was expected to demolish his opponent, who sat 140 places below him in the rankings.
Instead, the three-time World Championship winner stumbled to just a shaky 6-4 victory, prompting his shocking post-match comments.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Ljubic said: "He was just frustrated with his own performance.
'For me, what matters most is someone's honesty – not what the internet says."
Darts star Michael van Gerwen rips into 'pub player' rival Pero Ljubic
Ljubic's classy reaction even extended to paying his legendary opponent compliments.
He added: "During a later chat, he even gave me some motivation. He's a genuinely decent guy and a top-class player."
4
Ljubic holds a PDC Order of Merit ranking of 143, a full 140 spots behind Van Gerwen's top three ranking
Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78
4
Van Gerwen is considered amongst the best to ever step up to the oche, and is the second most successful PDC darts player ever behind Phil Taylor.
Credit: Getty
Van Gerwen was eventually knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals by Englishman Rob Cross.
Welsh star Gerwyn Price would take the silverware in the end however, narrowly beating Stephen Bunting 8-7 in a tense final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Katie Price's face looks more stretched than ever as she poses for painful pic
Katie Price is currently soaking up the summer sun as she enjoys a holiday abroad which she has been documenting on social media Katie Price was looking more youthful than ever as she posed for a sultry selfie on Instagram. The mum-of-five is currently away on holiday as she soaks up the summer sun. She's been keeping her fans in the loop as she took to her Instagram stories to show off her bronzed skin in a very skimpy silver top. Former glamour model Katie showed off her taut visage emphasised by her sharp eyebrows and plumped lips while pouting for the camera. The star tied her black locks back while going for a full glam look for her night out. The giddy mum was in high spirits as she told fans: "After 7 hours of travelling and melting on the beach what a night." The update comes after Katie splashed out £10,000 on a brand new facelift - having undergone several procedures previously. Katie shared gruesome photos of her recovery on Snapchat, revealing her face and cheeks taped up. She posted: 'From my last surgery, there are just a few little bits that I want tweaking. Well, they need tweaking. So here I am getting ready. That's the worst bit for me, the needle. The needle's done so now I can relax.' The former glamour model has been open about her surgeries, but she recently said that she has been sworn off having surgery in the UK following a botched operation. She recently showed off her new look after having more filler in her bum. But she admitted her bungled Brazilian butt lift was her worst operation to date. Katie opened up to Katherine Ryan on her What's My Age Again? podcast. Explaining the procedure was the one she most regretted, Katie said: "I tried that BBL abroad where they take your own fat and put it in your bum. It was so painful. And it just did not look right on me." She said she had the procedure in Turkey and said that despite the bad experience, it hadn't stopped her love of getting work done abroad. "I would never have surgery in England again. Ever, ever," she confessed. "I'd always have it abroad." Earlier this year Katie even also insisted she wouldn't be getting another BBL and instead had an aim to hit the gym to plump it up naturally. Speaking on her own The Katie Price Podcast, she told listeners: "I'm starting the gym next week. I've decided I'm not going to have filler or implants, I'm going to work my a*** off at the gym. I'll take before and after pictures, though it'll probably take a year to get my bum where I want it." Dr Gerard Lambe, a leading UK plastic surgeon and head of Reflect Clinic, issued a stark warning in New Magazine. "Katie needs to be aware that she is putting her health and body under extreme pressure with the now countless number of procedures she's had done in the last year alone," he said. "BBL is one of the most dangerous surgeries anyone can undergo and it has the highest mortality rate – it's one of Katie's riskiest surgeries yet. She is dicing with death," he added.
Wales Online
24 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek has trophy taken away from her after banking £3million
Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek has trophy taken away from her after banking £3million Iga Swiatek was crowned Wimbledon champion on Saturday after a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova, but the Pole was soon reminded of one of the tournament's most brutal traditions Sally Bolton will have taken the Venus Rosewater Dish off Iga Swiatek. (Image: BBC ) Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek encountered a bittersweet twist to her Wimbledon Women's singles victory on Saturday. Although she revelled in an astounding 6-0, 6-0 victory over an emotional Amanda Anisimova, wrapping the match up in less than an hour, Swiatek was soon informed she wouldn't keep the coveted Venus Rosewater Dish. Swiatek, 24, learned quickly about one of Wimbledon's more unforgiving customs following her historic win that registered as the most one-sided final in the modern tennis era. Despite pocketing £3million in prize money and speaking with Royalty, Swiatek didn't get to enjoy the trophy for long. The much-coveted dish is only briefly bestowed upon the women's champion before being reclaimed shortly after the celebration, leaving victorious players like Swiatek with merely a diminutive replica. As the BBC coverage of the final unfolded, presenter Clare Balding was discussing Swiatek's triumphant walk towards the balcony alongside analyst Tracy Austin, reports The Express. All England Club CEO Sally Bolton had to take the trophy off Iga Swiatek. (Image: BBC ) Article continues below Balding said: "It looks so lovely that side of the clubhouse and it's just great, you've got your hands on this trophy". Austin added: "She keeps looking at it! It's so beautiful to see her smiling." However, 2013 Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli was on hand to drop a bombshell. "But she can't keep it," she interjected. Bartoli continued: "You only get a replica of it. This one goes back into the trophy gallery. You will have it at the Champions Ball in your hand again, then it will go back to the trophy gallery. You don't go back home with that trophy, there is only one place and it stays in the trophy gallery at Wimbledon." Following her photo opportunity with the trophy and her team, Swiatek was reportedly approached by All England Club CEO Sally Bolton, who promptly reclaimed it. Bartoli humorously said that the Wimbledon boss will have told Swiatek that she had to give the famous trophy up. French Open champion Coco Gauff was unable to take the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy home with her (Image: Getty Images ) When questioned about the size of the replica trophy winners get to keep, Bartoli replied: "Three-quarters size." She added: "But all the names are engraved, all the names of the past champions who have graced that court before you are engraved with the replica you can take home. But it's only three-quarters size. But it's still beautiful." Article continues below Coco Gauff also learned the hard truth about winning the biggest prizes back in June when she won her first French Open title. The US Star even made a TikTok video where she joked about the smaller size of her replica trophy. Meanwhile, Andy Murray, who was absent from Wimbledon this year, playfully took issue with the replica trophy situation by taking to Instagram. "Surely the tennis majors can do a better job with the replica trophies?! They are tiny," he wrote. He did add a laughing emoji in his response to Gauff's minor complaint however.
Scottish Sun
39 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of TRNSMT fans facing travel chaos today as services axed on major Glasgow route
It comes an an act admitted feeling unwell over the heat RAILLY ANNOYING Thousands of TRNSMT fans facing travel chaos today as services axed on major Glasgow route Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MUSIC lovers flocking to the final day of TRNSMT could be faced with some travel chaos on the trains. Thousands will descend on Glasgow Green today to rock out to performances from Gracie Adams, Tom Walker and Snow Patrol. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Thousands will head to Glasgow Green for the last day of TRNSMT Credit: Getty 3 ScotRail warned of travel chaos Credit: Getty But getting there and back for some revellers might prove an issue as ScotRail announced there will be no trains running on a busy line today. Trains won't be running between West Calder and Holytown all day. The route has been closed so engineering works can be carried out. Replacement buses will be running between West Calder and Glasgow Central all day. But TRNSMT revellers who wanted to use this service have been told to plan their journey in advance. A warning online read: "Due to engineering works, buses replace trains between Glasgow Central and West Calder on Sunday 13 July. "Check replacement bus times on our app or website. Journey times may be extended, so allow extra time for travel." It also followed a warning for passengers to stay safe on the trains during the heatwave. Temperatures soared to a sizzling 32C at TRNSMT yesterday and sent festival-goers diving for the shade. Staff were on patrols handing out waters to punters in the crowd as they rocked out to an epic set by Biffy Clyro. How to survive TRNSMT 2025 They were even setting up stations for people to get sun cream amid the scorching heat. The heat was so intense that main stage act Sigrid ended up feeling unwell after her set. The Norwegian singer, 28, described the performance as "really fun", but admitted it was "really tough" to endure the Scottish heatwave. Where will the replacement bus stop? THE replacement bus from West Calder to Glasgow Central will stop at: Cambuslang Uddingston Bellshill Holytown Carfin Cleland Hartwood Shotts Fauldhouse Addiewell She said: "Honestly, I gotta admit, I'm not feeling very well. "I'm okay, but I'm not used to the heat. But it was great. The crowd, was really, really lovely. "I was very impressed by how they braved the heat. This is probably one of the hottest shows we've ever done." And the heat is set to continue today, with the mercury to hit 26C.
