EAGLE-EYED fans spotted Michael van Gerwen appearing to break a little-known rule against Luke Littler.
The Dutch pitcher beat the teenage sensation in last night’s Premier League final in Berlin.
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Michael Van Gerwen was standing inside the ‘off zone’ while Luke Littler was on the touchline
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MVG won in Berlin to win the second night of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
Van Gerwen sealed a 6-5 victory in a dramatic decider as Littler missed two match points.
But his win was not without controversy with fans spotting him seemingly breaking the rules towards the end of the match.
While Littler was on the pitch, MVG was behind him and inside the pitcher’s designated area.
The Darts Rulebook uses the term “exclusion zone” and says it should be 300mm wide and 900m behind the line.
It also states: “A player who does not throw must stand while waiting for his throw.
“This position shall be behind the thrower and outside the exclusion zone in a position that does not interfere with officials or broadcasting facilities.”
Expanding on the rule, it says: “A player not throwing may not enter the exclusion zone behind or to the side of the oche until the player throwing has released the last dart of his throw.”
Analyzing footage from last night’s game, Van Gerwen’s feet are inside the exclusion zone during Littler’s latest visit to Oche.
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It is believed that the 34-year-old would have received a warning if an official spotted his offence.
Van Gerwen’s encroachment saw him clash with Dimitri van den Bergh last year.
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The Premier League returns for a third night next Thursday in Glasgow.
You crossed the line
Darts’ governing body has officially described the exclusion zone as “a clearly marked area surrounding the Oche that provides the player with a certain amount of separation from the opponent when throwing.”
The no-play position is called “the position in which the non-throwing player must stand while waiting for his next pitch, such position being behind the throwing player and, if applicable, outside the Exclusion Zone in a position that does not interfere with the Officials or broadcast facilities.”
When entering the area it says: “The non-throwing player may not enter the exclusion zone behind or to the side of the Oche until the throwing player releases the last dart of his throw.”
The second referee’s job is to spot the foul.
Fans were unhappy that MVG had entered the area, with one saying: “If I was Littler, I would have called encroachment in that last leg.”
Another added: “MVG always gets away with standing in the penalty area, definitely had an impact there.”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education