Darts: Taylor says sorry after Van Barneveld spat
PHIL "The Power" Taylor has claimed a painful tug on his arm from semi-final rival Raymond van Barneveld was behind their on-stage spat at the Alexandra Palace.
The pair exchanged words at the end of Taylor's 6-4 victory on Sunday night after first shaking hands.
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FLASH POINT: Phil Taylor clashes with Raymond van Barneveld on stage after their semi-final match.
Taylor yesterday claimed to have contacted the Dutchman to apologise for the incident after saying he had been pulled off-balance by Van Barneveld's post-match handshake, although the Dutchman was said to still be fuming last night.
"I'm over the moon to be in the final, but I'm disappointed with my behaviour at the end of the game," said Taylor.
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"Raymond's a big lad and he has a strong handshake, and when he pulled me it hurt me.
"I reacted wrongly and I'm ashamed of that because I really like Raymond. I'm gutted about what happened.
"It's upset a lot of people and it's also upset me. I've contacted Raymond to apologise to him and hopefully we can put it behind us now.
"I'm very close to Raymond, he's a great competitor and it was something that happened in the heat of the moment.
"But whatever the PDC decide – even if they chuck the book at me – they can do whatever they want to do. To be honest, I'm a bit disillusioned about everything right now. I'm not feeling very well and I need a break.
"I don't care about darts at the minute. I know I'm in the final, but I don't feel excited about it. I feel very, very down."
Taylor had also been keen to play down the incident immediately after the victory.
"Nothing went on," he said during a post-match interview.
"None of us wanted to lose that. Raymond was brilliant there. He stuck in there.
"I told him backstage, 'There's nobody in this room who's a bigger fan of you than I am'.
"We're not going to fall out about anything. It's forgotten. It's done."
However, the Dutch media claimed that was not the way Van Barneveld saw things.
He told them: "I've not talked to Phil, just received a text message from him.
"He apologised for his improper behaviour, but I do not know if I'm going to respond.
"The emotions are still running high. And, of course, I hope Michael wins the final.
"I just tried to congratulate him in a sporting manner when he pushed me away.
"I just wanted to hug him, but he swore at me. I don't understand his reaction at all."
MATT BOZEAT
Comments
by dougalcross
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:35AM
“Darts?
I don''t believe people are willing to pay £30 or so to see a darts match.
And is it true that the BBC include darts games in their sports programmes?
They'll soon be including charades and ironing in Match of the Day”
by nelsonl
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 8:58AM
“meyanaryewth - MY APOLOGIES
I misread how it was put. I can spell, I just did not read it properly. I saw the word "spat" and thought he "spat at him".
As for Nikki "plonker" - Errm yes ok, coming from someone who has never made a mistake, never misread something.
No need for the use of the word "plonker" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You quite easily could of said made me aware without using negative words as the above.”
by johnwhite18
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 5:44AM
“It makes great TV and darts hit the headlines”
by Nikki3698
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:38PM
“He didn't spit you plonker they had a spat .... i.e. a kerfuffle, argument, tiff.
He did not spit at him!”
by meyanaryewth
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 5:46PM
“nelson..............what are you talking about.
you need to check your dictionary for the difference between spit and spat.!!!!”
by hasod
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 5:45PM
“Filthy habbit .. should be banned or arrested ..”
by nelsonl
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 4:18PM
“Dirty Bast*rd. There is nothing worse that spitting in my eyes.
If a professional, and world champion dart player reacts like that he should have the book thrown at him.
Its bad enough seeing footballers spitting, but spitting at someone is a disgrace, and also a criminal offence. If anyone on this board spat at Taylor they would be regarded as scum, hooligans, and be slated and probably be accused of having a poor upbringing.
I sincerely hope the Darts Organisation deal with Taylor severely for this.
Throw him out of darts for 5 years. Disgusting Scum.
And no I do not spit, neither does my daughter, if id of ever caught her when she was younger id of put soap in her mouth, to give her something to spit for.....”