Gian van Veen stands by Luke Littler criticism but is ready to move on from spat

Gian van Veen is ready to “bury the hatchet” with Luke Littler after their Manchester spat but stands by his opinion on his rival’s behaviour.

The pair clashed during their Premier League quarter-final a fortnight ago when Littler appeared to celebrate his opponent missing a match dart before gesturing to Van Veen to get back to the oche.

It ended in a frosty handshake and some afters on social media but Littler, who denied celebrating Van Veen’s missed dart, said in an interview this week that it was time to move on.

Van Veen is not wavering on his opinion of Littler’s behaviour, which he called “childish”, but has no hard feelings towards the world champion.

Asked whether they needed to clear the air, he replied: “It’s a difficult one. Like for myself, not really. He said his piece the other day.

“I still have the same view as I had two weeks ago when it all happened and if he wants to bury the hatchet then fine.

“I don’t have any hard feelings towards him and I don’t know how it is the other way around but we’ll see how it goes.

“He’s got his opinion and he’s entitled to it. I still have mine, I still have the same opinion as I had two weeks ago, straight after the incident happened.

Gian van Veen explains the heated ending to his Premier League Darts quarter-final match with Luke Littler