- Mike De Decker missed the prestigious eight-man tournament this year
- His disapproval came despite him winning the Grand Prix after beating Luke Humphries
- De Decker lashed out at the decision and believes he should have been selected
Darts star Mike De Decker has lashed out at his shocked criticism of the Premier League, labeling the decision to overlook him as ‘scandalous’ and ‘s***’.
De Decker, the reigning Grand Prix champion, missed selection for the prestigious eight-man tournament this year, despite winning his first major TV title in 2024.
The 29-year-old climbed the world rankings to number 24 after a mixed year on the circuit, having also been knocked out in the early rounds at the World Championship, European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts.
But he became the first player in the Premier League’s 20-year history to miss the pitch, despite winning a big screen on Sky Sports.
De Decker, nicknamed ‘The Real Deal’, reacted angrily to the omission, claiming that the rivals selected before him ‘didn’t deserve it’.
“I think their decision is a little outrageous, to be honest,” he said The Newspaper.
Darts star Mike De Decker has reacted furiously to his surprising criticism of the Premier League
De Decker won the Grand Prix, but missed the cut for the prestigious eight-man tournament
Luke Littler will look to defend his crown when the competition starts in Belfast next month
PDC CEO Matt Porter stated that De Decker was ‘not quite ready’ for the Premier League, a judgment with which the Belgian strongly disagrees.
“I didn’t think that explanation was fair,” De Decker added. ‘After my Grand Prix win I said I might not be ready yet and I don’t regret that. But afterwards I confirmed at other tournaments that I can compete with the best in the world.
‘It only didn’t work at the World Cup. S*** and a shame it happened then, but still. I feel ready.’
Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price were both controversially chosen over De Decker, a decision that attracted reaction on social media.
“They didn’t deserve it,” De Decker said, taking aim at both players. ‘Suddenly they reach a quarter-final at the World Cup and there they are.
‘Aspinall is there with his walk-on purely for entertainment and if Price performs poorly in the first few weeks, he will complain again. They say you get to the Premier League based on results, but apparently that’s not the case.’
Explaining De Decker’s absence, Porter added: ‘We have seen players in the past, I don’t want to embarrass them by naming them, but players like Danny Noppert, Ross Smith and Andrew Gilding who have been on TV won tournaments.
‘But you have to show that you can regularly participate in the final stages of TV tournaments.
Nathan Aspinall got the nod after reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship
Gerwyn Price was another controversial choice despite his mixed year on the circuit
World No.1 Luke Humphries will headline the Premier League action alongside Littler
“It’s great to do it once and it’s something you’ll always have, but to really be among the elite you have to do it regularly for several years.”
Reigning Premier League champion Luke Littler, who is still basking in his stunning World Cup win at Alexandra Palace earlier this month, will be joined in the popular competition by world champion Luke Humphries.
Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Price, Stephen Bunting, Aspinall and Chris Dobey make up the rest of the line-up, with the showpiece event starting in Belfast on February 6.