The darts star branded a ‘pub player’ by Michael van Gerwen has graciously accepted the Dutchman’s apology. The three-time world champion made the derogatory comment about Pero Ljubic after edging to a 6-4 victory over the Croatian in a low-quality match at the recent Polish Darts Masters.
Van Gerwen was well short of his brilliant best, but the 47-year-old veteran couldn’t take advantage as he limped out of the tournament at the first hurdle. The Green Machine didn’t hold back after the match, deriding both his own performance and the state of Ljubic’s game. He said: “It wasn’t a good game at all. Pero needs to be happy that he won one leg. Pero is not a good player. Pero is a pub player, we all know that.”
Defending his brutal assessment, Van Gerwen, who went on to lose to Rob Cross in the quarter-finals, added: “I’m not harsh. He is a lovely man but when you throw treble 12 for treble 20 then you need to go back to the dartboard [to practice].
“I’m the one to blame. But I made Pero look good today. Pero won a few legs and it feels like his birthday!”
Van Gerwen, who recently had a break from the sport after announcing he is splitting from his wife Daphne, was roundly criticised by fans for his comments and has since apologised to Pero, who has dismissed suggestions of bad blood between the pair. The ‘Croatian Knight’ put MVG’s reaction down to frustration with his own performance.
Via Oche 180, Pero said: “Michael and I have known each other for a long time. We like to have a laugh. There was no bad intention behind his words.
“He was just frustrated with his own performance, and I understand that. To be honest, Michael apologised to me straight away. As I said, we know each other well, and I know he meant no harm. In fact, during a later chat, he even gave me some motivation.
“He’s a genuinely decent guy and a top-class player, so don’t judge him too harshly. Emotions can run high in those moments. For me, what matters most is someone’s honesty, not what the internet says.
“As I mentioned, he regretted his words, and he apologised. That’s enough for me. Once again, don’t be too quick to judge. Emotions can take over in moments like that.”
After withdrawing from this weekend’s Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel, Germany, Van Gerwen is now preparing for the World Matchplay in Blackpool, which begins on Saturday, July 19. He has been handed a blockbuster first-round clash against fellow Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld, who just qualified for the prestigious major via his standing in the ProTour Order of Merit. One big name will be missing after 2023 world champion Michael Smith failed to qualify.
