Joe Cullen has expressed strong disapproval towards Mensur Suljovic on social media, accusing the experienced darts player of dishonesty. The player from Bradford faced a disappointing loss to the Austrian in a tense second-round match at the World Darts Championship.
Suljovic made an impressive comeback after losing a set, ultimately defeating the Englishman 3-1 at Alexandra Palace. Throughout the game, Cullen showed frustration by checking his watch sarcastically and quietly urging Suljovic to speed up his throws on the oche.
Known for his slower pace compared to other players, Suljovic’s deliberate style and prolonged celebrations visibly irked ‘the Rockstar,’ leading to a tense exchange of words during their post-match handshake. As Cullen left the stage, he shot a cold stare at Suljovic, who was enjoying the moment with the audience, sparking Cullen’s fiery social media rant.
In a post, Cullen stated, “If that’s darts, I want no part of it! Always respected Mensur off the board, but that behavior was plain wrong for all to witness! I believe many share my sentiment. It may be considered traditional by some, but no matter how you phrase it – it’s deceptive! That’s not darts.”
When questioned about Cullen’s reaction and if he had apologized for his slow performance at the press conference, Suljovic seemed puzzled. He responded, “I have never personally apologized to Joe Cullen. I play my game on that stage, what’s his issue? I may apologize to the referee, but to Joe Cullen? Never. Everyone plays differently.”
Further discussing the incident, Suljovic added, “I don’t understand his concern. What is the problem? I gave him opportunities with missed doubles, right? I always play darts correctly. Maybe my celebrations are too much, but I like Joe Cullen. He’s a good guy, but…”
In the upcoming round, Suljovic could face defending world champion Luke Littler. The 18-year-old is set to compete against darts player and NHS area manager David Davies in the next match.
The PDC World Darts Championship kicks off on December 11, with fans able to watch every match live exclusively with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.