In the ever-evolving world of darts, where precision meets passion, a storm of controversy has erupted, pitting a former world champion against a football icon over a perceived slight to teenage sensation Luke Littler. The drama unfolded after Littler, the reigning PDC World Darts Champion at just 18, appeared on a popular football podcast hosted by Gary Neville, the Manchester United legend turned pundit. What was meant to be a lighthearted exchange quickly spiraled into a fiery debate, with darts veteran Colin Lloyd stepping in to defend the young star, accusing Neville of crossing a line with “disrespectful” and “unprofessional” behavior.
The incident kicked off during Littler’s guest spot on the podcast, where he joined Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, and Ian Wright for a chat about his meteoric rise in darts. Littler, who clinched the world title in January 2025 by defeating Michael van Gerwen, has become the sport’s brightest star, his effortless talent and cool demeanor captivating fans worldwide. The panel, eager to test the youngster’s skills, veered into unexpected territory when Neville posed a seemingly innocuous question: “If I give you three random numbers, could you give me finishes straight away?” Littler, unfazed, replied with a confident, “I can do,” sparking laughter from the group. But for Lloyd, a two-time major winner who claimed the World Grand Prix and World Matchplay in his career, this moment wasn’t funny—it was an affront to the sport and its prodigy.
Speaking out passionately, Lloyd didn’t hold back. “Where they said, ‘If we threw three random numbers at you, would you be able to tell us the checkout,’ I actually thought that was a disrespectful question,” he fumed. To him, it was akin to challenging Neville’s own expertise in football with a trivial test—like asking, “If I kicked a ball towards the goal, do you think you could slide-tackle it to clear it off the line?” Lloyd’s point was clear: of course Littler could handle it, just as Neville could execute a defender’s basics. “Why did you ask him about numbers then?” he demanded, his frustration boiling over. For Lloyd, the question undermined Littler’s craft, reducing the mental arithmetic that’s second nature to top dart players to a parlor trick.
The darts icon took it a step further, accusing Neville and his co-hosts of failing to prepare adequately. “Do your research!” he thundered, recalling how Ian Wright had quipped, “He could call any number out against us, we wouldn’t know.” To Lloyd, this admission exposed a lack of respect not just for Littler, but for darts itself. “How unprofessional did they make themselves look? How much are they disrespecting the sport of darts through not doing their homework?” he asked, his words a rallying cry for the darts community. For a sport often fighting for mainstream legitimacy, this felt like a missed opportunity to showcase its depth, not a chance to poke fun at its brightest talent.
Littler, meanwhile, handled the podcast with the same poise he brings to the oche. Beyond the numbers question, he shared insights into his rivalries, notably with Van Gerwen, who he accused of “trying to get in my head” before matches by taunting him during warm-ups. “Every time I’ll go over to Michael van Gerwen, and he’ll try to get in my head about hitting the bullseye first, but I always get it before he does!” Littler said, a sly grin in his voice. It’s this blend of confidence and composure that’s propelled him to the top of the Premier League standings and made him a household name at an age when most are still finding their footing.
For Neville, a figure known for his sharp analysis in football, the backlash might come as a surprise. His intent seemed playful, a way to engage Littler in a format that thrives on banter. But in darts, where respect for the game’s intricacies runs deep, Lloyd saw it differently—a lapse that painted the panel as out of touch. The exchange has since sparked a wider debate about how darts is perceived outside its loyal fanbase, with some arguing it’s time for the sport’s stars to be treated with the gravitas they deserve.
As Littler continues his dazzling 2025 campaign—he’s already notched four nightly wins in the Premier League and a nine-darter against Van Gerwen—the spotlight grows brighter. For Lloyd, protecting this prodigy’s legacy means calling out anything that diminishes it, even if it’s from a football legend. In a world where darts is riding a wave of popularity, thanks in no small part to Littler’s brilliance, this clash is a reminder: respect the game, and respect the kid rewriting its history.