Luke Littler blasted and sworn at by Raymond van Barneveld as huge row erupts

Darts sensation Luke Littler was blasted by Raymond van Barneveld.

Raymond van Barneveld has told Luke Littler to “f*** off” for not returning his texts after becoming an overnight sporting sensation. The Dutch darts icon is one of Littler’s biggest inspirations, but was not best pleased when the teenager snubbed him after sending a congratulatory message following his Belgian Darts Open win.

The pair met for the first time at the World Championship in December, when footage went viral on social media of Littler as a toddler pretending to be his icon Van Barneveld, before downing the 56-year-old on his way to the final.

Having seen that clip, Van Barneveld perhaps expected that his opponent may be a bit more gracious and friendly on the stage. However, he claimed that the opposite took place and he was baffled at how Littler treated him at the Alexandra Palace oche.

“So that’s the weird thing about it,” Van Barneveld said when asked by Dutch outlet Sportnieuws.nl about his relationship with darts’ newest household name.

Raymond van Barneveld was far from impressed at Luke Littler’s attitude.

“I understood then that I am his example. That at the World Championship you don’t chat I can understand, but other tournaments… The other day I walked up to him to shake his hand. Then he took out his earplug for a moment and only said the most necessary thing.”

Five-time world champion Van Barneveld was further incensed by Littler’s inability to reply to his text messages. The 17-year-old famously spends more time on his phone and playing FIFA than practising, prompting the Dutchman to ask why he cannot respond to a congratulatory message.