PDC world darts: Phil Taylor apologises to Van Barneveld

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Phil Taylor confronts Raymond van Barneveld

Phil Taylor says he has apologised to Raymond van Barneveld after the altercation at the end of their PDC World Championship semi-final.

Taylor appeared agitated with his opponent following the 6-4 win.

"Raymond's a big lad and has a strong handshake. When he pulled me, it hurt me," said the 16-time world champion.

"I've contacted Raymond to apologise and hopefully we can put it behind us now. I reacted wrongly and I'm ashamed of that because I really like Raymond."

He added: "I'm gutted about what happened. It's upset a lot of people and it's also upset me.

"I'm very close to Raymond. He's a great competitor and it was something that happened in the heat of the moment."

Taylor faces Holland's Michael van Gerwen in Tuesday's final.

"Michael is extraordinary," Taylor, 52, said. "I've never seen a darts player like him.

"Even when I'm at my best, he's probably better than I am."

Van Gerwen, 23, has won his last two matches against Taylor, but will not be underestimating the challenge posed by his number-one ranked opponent.external-link

"I like playing him and he likes playing me so it should be a hard game," Van Gerwen said. "It's one for everyone to watch - it's going to be a cracking match.

"He'll be ready to play me. He wants his title back, I want my first title. We are both going to work very hard and it's going to be a cracking game. For me it's a dream come true."

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144 comments

  • Alex Ferguson said that this handshake could have killed Phil Taylor.

  • Never liked the bloke,,,,,Taylor that is.

  • What happened last night was a guy in a grump acting stupid. It happens every day in households all over the country. People who love each other argue and call each other names. People who are annoyed because of one person lash out at someone who did nothing wrong. People who drive cars swear and scream because someone has dared to cut in.

    Let he who has never had the hump throw the first stone.

  • I thought Taylor's reaction was pathetic, I lost all respect for him in that moment, bored with his after match comments in recent months, he certainly likes the sound of his own voice these days. I get the impression he believes he's bigger than the game itself now, go away Phil, thanks for the memories, all except this last one of course.

  • Well I'm glad that people DO apologise to people. :)

  • Breathtakingly arrogant, insincere, patronising and obnoxious man. Ideas above his station. The man is an idiot. End of story.

  • Utterly charmless fella is Taylor, but he's certainly not alone. Incredibly, he's not only a very bad loser, but now, his ego has made him a very poor winner.
    I hate it when people say top sports competitors need to have that 'edge', and that's what separates them from the also rans...complete nonsense in my opinion!

  • I can see why people would dislike Phil, but he is loveable compared to someone like Aidy Lewis!

  • I have a feeling if Phil Taylor loses tomorrow night this will be his last World Championship. His reaction last night came from a man who is really finding it tougher to play & his age probably is playing a part now. Barney didn't hurt him like he stated....this was rubbish he was just emotional & his competitive edge came out in anger against his opponent. He is a legend & still a great player

  • The volume of hatred toward Taylor on here is breathtaking. So many want to see him get 'crushed' in the final just because they dislike him. This is sport (or a game if you want), not a popularity contest. I just want to see a tense, dramatic final with the best player on the night lifting the fittingly named Sid Waddell when the winning double has been hit. The spat with Barney is so overblown.

  • Oh well, we got to see the real Phil Taylor

  • The apology should have been to his oppoent within minutes. To apologies 24 hours later reeks of PR spin and external pressure.

    Horrible little man.

  • It's not the infantile reaction to losing that bothers me. It's the patronizing and condescending way Taylor talks down to every other opponent. He is a great player but in every other aspect of life lacks the essentials. He is slowly cracking under the pressure of recognizing that his time is nearly at an end with all the new talent around. Grow old gracefully Phil, or lose any respect you had.

  • Taylor is the best darts player ever - its just unfortunate that he is a terrible advert for the game. Convicted of sexual assault, stripped of his MBE, and now he cant even WIN graciously ... thank goodness he didnt LOSE ...

  • Ring Sting: there is no relativity in that statement about Einstein!

  • It is quite funny reading some of the comments on here. I play competitive darts and it is quite fiery at times. Barney tried the mind games, it didn't work. Taylor reacted. Get over it.

  • The greatest human being to ever throw a dart...undoubtedly

    But otherwise a very ordinary, poorly educated man who lacks intelligence or social skills and hence, struggles to cope with the status that goes with being in the spot light.

    He's a classic one trick pony. He can throw a dart better than anyone else on the planet - but in every other respect he really is not a good example of humanity

  • @15

    Taylor has now confirmed that he feels his own behavior was disgraceful!

    Best darts player ever but a very ordinary human being...

  • The comments last night were frankly pathetic, calling Taylor a 'disgrace' when they knew absolutely nothing about the incident as none of us did. Too many people letting their pre-existing jealousy or dislike of Taylor get in the way of impartial analysis and instead resorting to intellectually lazy assumptions based on bias. These are the type of 'fans' that darts and all sports can do without.

  • He's only apologised because he's worried about the negative media reaction to his on stage tantrum. Not that Sky would ever criticise the great man. The presenters live up his back passage!

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