Mensur Suljovic Issues Apology After Swiss Darts Trophy Controversy

Mensur Suljovic has publicly apologised following an eventful and controversial campaign at the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, which has led to him being reported to the sport's governing body.

The controversy originated during a round-of-16 contest between Suljovic and English competitor Ross Smith. During the closing stages, the Austrian attempted to provoke and energise the crowd while Smith was lining up his match-winning darts. After Smith failed to convert his opportunities to close out the match, Suljovic secured the win, celebrated energetically, and offered his opponent a frosty handshake.

Following the defeat, Smith addressed the situation on social media. While he accepted personal responsibility for failing to hit his decisive darts, he voiced strong displeasure regarding Suljovic's unsporting actions behind his back and suggested that such conduct would eventually lead to bad karma.

Suljovic initially dismissed the complaints following his 6-1 quarterfinal victory against Dirk van Duijvenbode. At the time, he argued that an elite competitor like Smith should simply focus on his game rather than complain, adding an inappropriate remark that comparing such grievances to the behaviour of women. Suljovic also claimed that crowds consistently turn against him during tournaments in England and elsewhere, suggesting his rival should have stayed at home if he could not handle the environment.

However, Suljovic later reversed his stance by releasing a formal apology via Instagram. He explained that his actions were driven by overwhelming emotion in the heat of the competition. The Austrian stated that he had merely aimed to gain support from the audience and did not realize Smith was actively throwing for the match. Acknowledging that his timing was poor and rightly viewed as unfair, Suljovic offered a direct apology to Smith, emphasizing his deep respect for the Englishman's abilities.

Suljovic also addressed the remarks he made regarding women, admitting that the statement was completely inappropriate and should never have been uttered. He apologized to all women, acknowledging that while darts relies heavily on passion, mutual respect and fairness must always be upheld.

In the wake of the incident and his post-match statements, the Professional Darts Corporation confirmed that Suljovic has been formally referred to the Darts Regulation Authority for inciting the crowd and making alleged sexist remarks.