Joe Cullen recently took to social media to express his strong disapproval of Mensur Suljovic, accusing the seasoned darts player of dishonesty. Cullen faced a tough loss to Suljovic in a closely contested second-round match at the World Darts Championship.
Despite initially trailing, Suljovic mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Cullen 3-1 at Alexandra Palace. Throughout the game, Cullen visibly showed his impatience by checking his watch and muttering to himself as the 53-year-old Suljovic took his time with each throw at the oche.
While Suljovic is known for his slower pace on the darts circuit, Cullen, also known as ‘the Rockstar,’ grew increasingly frustrated with his opponent’s deliberate tactics and prolonged celebrations. Tensions escalated during their post-match handshake, with Cullen confronting Suljovic, who responded with laughter.
As Cullen exited the stage, he paused, turned back, and gave Suljovic a cold stare as the Austrian basked in the crowd’s applause. Cullen did not hold back in his fiery social media rant, stating, “If that’s darts, I want no part of it! Always respected Mensur off the board, but that was blatant for everyone to see!”
Expressing his belief that many others share his sentiments, Cullen condemned Suljovic’s actions as cheating, emphasizing that such behavior should not be tolerated in the sport. When questioned about Cullen’s outburst and if he had apologized for his slow play during a press conference, Suljovic appeared puzzled.
Suljovic responded, “I have never personally apologized to Joe Cullen. I play my game on that stage, what’s the issue?” Defending his style of play, Suljovic highlighted that every player has their own approach and that he waits around 40 seconds before throwing his first dart.
Further probed about the incident, Suljovic questioned Cullen’s grievance, stating, “I don’t understand what his problem is. What’s the issue? Did I miss doubles for him and everything? I play darts my way. Maybe I show emotions too much, but I play fair.”
Looking ahead, Suljovic could potentially face off against reigning world champion Luke Littler in the upcoming round. Littler is set to compete against NHS area manager David Davies in the next match.
The prestigious PDC World Darts Championship commenced on December 11, offering fans the opportunity to watch all the matches live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.