‘Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking ‘pub player' slur
Full one-eighty 'Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking 'pub player' slur
DARTS STAR Pero Ljubic has defended rival Michael van Gerwen after the ex-world champ labelled him a "pub player".
The outburst caused outrage in the media - but Ljubic has now come to the aid of his Dutch opponent.
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Van Gerwen appeared to slam his opponent following a nervy victory last week in Poland
Credit: Getty
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Croatian thrower Pero Ljubic does not hold a grudge against the Dutchman
Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78
Van Gerwen's insults included calling his opponent a "pub player" as well as saying "[Ljubic] won a few legs and it feels like his birthday".
However - speaking to Polish darts outlet Okiem Darta - Ljubic downplayed the severity of Van Gerwen's jibes.
The Croatian revealed that Van Gerwen apologised for his comments immediately - and asked people not to leap to conclusions.
He said: "Michael apologised to me straight away. We know each other well, and I know he meant no harm.
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"Don't be too quick to judge – emotions can take over in moments like that.'
Van Gerwen and Ljubic were drawn against each other in the Poland Darts Masters last week.
Van Gerwen - ranked third on the PDC Order of Merit - was expected to demolish his opponent, who sat 140 places below him in the rankings.
Instead, the three-time World Championship winner stumbled to just a shaky 6-4 victory, prompting his shocking post-match comments.
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Ljubic said: "He was just frustrated with his own performance.
'For me, what matters most is someone's honesty – not what the internet says."
Darts star Michael van Gerwen rips into 'pub player' rival Pero Ljubic
Ljubic's classy reaction even extended to paying his legendary opponent compliments.
He added: "During a later chat, he even gave me some motivation. He's a genuinely decent guy and a top-class player."
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Ljubic holds a PDC Order of Merit ranking of 143, a full 140 spots behind Van Gerwen's top three ranking
Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78
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Van Gerwen is considered amongst the best to ever step up to the oche, and is the second most successful PDC darts player ever behind Phil Taylor.
Credit: Getty
Van Gerwen was eventually knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals by Englishman Rob Cross.
Welsh star Gerwyn Price would take the silverware in the end however, narrowly beating Stephen Bunting 8-7 in a tense final.
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