Following Luke Littler’s latest run-in with a hostile crowd over the weekend, the Sky Sports Love The Darts Podcast has debated whether it is time for the world champion to change his approach.

Littler’s bid for a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 was ended on Sunday after a crushing 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the last eight at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, but the action was overshadowed by the Brit’s unhappiness at being repeatedly whistled at by the Dutch crowd.

After facing significant hostility during his win over home favourite Danny Noppert on Friday, Littler threatened to boycott future tournaments in the Netherlands after being booed and whistled at during his victory over Nathan Aspinall on Saturday, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to intervene.

Littler has taken a stance against volatile crowds before, refusing to travel to European Tour events in Germany as a result of his treatment from fans there.

On the latest episode of the Love The Darts Podcast, World Series of Darts Finals champion Ross Smith explained his own approach to hostile crowds, which he admits is inspired by three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

“It’s a real difficult situation,” Smith said. “I can’t speak for Luke because I’m not him and I wasn’t in his position, I wasn’t on stage at the time. I didn’t really experience the whistling too much. I try not to rise to it because I know you’re just going to get more stick.

“My manager once said to me, if you look at Michael van Gerwen, he never reacts, not once will he ever react to the crowd. He’ll always thank them and he never really gets too much stick and he’s very professional about how he does things. So, I admire him for that and I try and learn off of other people.

“I had a bit with Kevin Doets, obviously the crowd, rightly so, they’re cheering their local guy on. Same with Gian [van Veen], they’re doing exactly the same, but I think if you’re aggressive towards the crowd and you’re letting them know that it’s affecting you and you’re making them unhappy, it’s not a good thing.

“I tried to, with Gian, I had more banter with them, you know what I mean? Just like thumbs up to them, but smiling, not in an aggressive way and they sort of laugh with you, it’s not a problem.

“I think it’s how you can react on stage, if you’re aggressive towards them, it’s going to create problems for you. But like I said, I can’t really comment on Luke because I wasn’t playing in the games with Luke and I don’t know what he actually went through, but they can be brutal at times.”

Nicholson: Maybe Littler can learn from others

Former world championship quarter-finalist Paul Nicholson praised Smith’s approach, and suggested that Littler could benefit from learning from some of his rivals.

Nicholson, who himself was known for often having fractious interactions with crowds, also pointed to the way 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price has adapted his behaviour on stage.

Following on from Smith’s comments, Nicholson said: “That’s a really, really good way of looking at it, what Ross has just said, because from my standpoint, I tried to be aggressive because I wanted to be different and it was something that I had my entire career for, more than 10 years.

“Gerwyn Price has taken years to figure it out. Now he gives the smile with the aggression, and the crowd are with him more than they ever have been.

“So, it just goes to show that Ross is looking at this right, in order to make sure that his career is in the right place moving forward.

“So, we learn from mistakes, but we actually learn from what other people are going through as well. We don’t want to see Littler not going to events, but maybe he can learn from what other people are doing as well.”

Why whistling is worse than booing for players

Nicholson also explained why Littler and other players may become particularly frustrated at being whistled.

He added: “We have seen Littler have some banter with the crowd, which we’re all for by the way, because we want people to have that connection. One of the greatest things about this sport is that there is a connection between the fans and the stars.

“But what we have at the minute is a trend of people using whistling as a way to make themselves feel heard. Dart players don’t like it because it’s piercing. It gets in your ear and it happens in a very short, sharp way, and it comes from nowhere.

“You don’t know if it’s going to come when you’re throwing a match dart, a leg dart, or even going for a treble. If it comes out of nowhere, it can put you off and your shoulder jolts, and you don’t want that.

“A boo is a lesser frequency and it’s more mundane, you can handle them a lot better. But these short, sharp whistles, which is what they are, they’re horrible.

“And the worst thing is, if it happens once, you are thinking about whether it’s going to happen again, and you can’t fully focus.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo considered retiring from international football after the World Cup before deciding to extend his Portugal career.

Ronaldo – who turns 42 in February – will win his 234th cap against Wales in Lisbon on Thursday, with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus confirming that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid will start the Nations League fixture.

Some commentators have suggested the game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium – the home of Ronaldo’s first club Sporting – could be his international farewell, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will finish when “I feel like I’m not doing anything here”.

Age seemed to have caught up with Ronaldo this summer during a World Cup when many of the game’s greatest stars shone on its biggest stage, leading to speculation that his international career had run its course.

Asked if he considered leaving Portugal after the World Cup, Ronaldo said: “Yes I did. Of course, I’m always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also.

“I’m a thinker. You have to think. This is why you see me here now. It means I will continue.

“I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here.

“I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football.

“This is a new young generation. But for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games.”

Leading Portuguese newspaper A Bola ran a poll prior to the Wales game inviting readers to select their team, and Ronaldo failed to make the starting XI.

Ronaldo said: “I said it quite often at home with my friends. I’ve been playing football for so many years, I have been welcome almost everywhere, apart from a few exceptions.

“I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I do understand that some TV channels want to criticise me.

“They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore, but I can still move away from it.

“Anyway, I am used to it. For over 20 years I have been doing this, but my memories are with people who love me.”

Ronaldo, playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, currently has 979 career goals.

He denied that he is obsessed with reaching 1,000 goals, although he did add he would love to reach the landmark in Portugal colours.

“Scoring my 1,000th goal for the national team would be the ‌culmination of something – a beautiful story,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the end of it, but it would be a beautiful story.

“I’ve already admitted that I want to get there, and I will get ‌there. An obsession? No. The rest is about enjoying it, enjoying every day.

“I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that. Even when I am retired… in 10 years.

“I’m happy with myself. It doesn’t matter if I play tomorrow, if I rest the next game, for me the most important thing is that I feel good.”

Bellamy: Who gets 1,000 goals? It’s just silly

Craig Bellamy believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s name will be etched in football history for “hundreds and hundreds of years” as his Wales side prepare for Portugal in their Nations League opener.

Portugal boss Jorge Jesus has confirmed 41-year-old Ronaldo will start at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Thursday night, winning his 234th cap and seeking to add to his 146 international goals.

“Seriously? Who gets a thousand goals? We’re not counting youth football or anything,” said Bellamy.

“It’s just silly and I hope he gets it. But I hope he gets nothing against us.

“The type of impact on the game that he’s been able to sustain, for him to still keep going, you just have to sit in awe. That’s the honest truth, the guy is incredible.

“He’s had to adapt his game of course, but he’s at his most dangerous when he is not in the game. You’ve never been able to sleep on the pitch with this guy.

“We’re talking about one of the greatest players of all generations, not just this generation, of all generations.

“His name will go down in history for hundreds and hundreds of years. That’s the impact he’s had.”

Wieke Kaptein scored a stunning goal but Chelsea were given a stern test by Austria Wien as they began their Women’s Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Plough Lane.

Chelsea went ahead in spectacular style early on. Sandy Baltimore’s run was ended by a well-timed sliding tackle and the ball spun loose. Collecting it 25 yards from goal was Kaptein, and after taking a touch she hammered it in off the bar.

Keira Walsh was forced off injured after 20 minutes, a potential blow for Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s WSL game at home to Arsenal.

The home side were living dangerously when goalkeeper Livia Peng fumbled a shot from a short corner routine, palming the ball back out into danger from where Virginia Kirchberger hoisted it over the bar.

There was almost a sublime equaliser when Louise Schoffel danced her way through Chelsea’s defence and hit a low shot that flashed inches wide of the post.

Sjoeke Nusken should have settled the match and her manager’s nerves with a free hit 10 yards out that she wastefully thumped into the supporters behind the goal from Carpenter’s cross.

Chelsea’s number looked to be up when Kosovan forward Modesta Uka went through and hit the post, but they clung on for a nervy win.

The game’s key moments

8: SAVE! Thompson cuts the ball back to Kaptein whose low effort is well saved by the goalkeeper.

12: GOAL! Kaptein latches on to a loose ball and unleashes a rasping effort which hits the underside of the bar and goes in!

20: SUB! Enforced early substitution for Chelsea as Walsh has to come off with some kind of knock. Potter on to replace her.

26 CLOSE! Malard heads just wide!

32: CLOSE! Pfanner shoots before the ball drops to Kirchberger who fires over.

41: CLOSE! Schoffel glides away from a couple of Chelsea players and her shot is only just wide!

64: SAVE! Uka shoots from range, forcing Peng into a diving save to her right.

73: OVER! Carpenter breaks down the right and crosses well for Nuskens who volleys over!

77: POST! Sharp counter attack from Austria Wien. Uka shoots from the corner of the area and it hits the post and goes behind!