Wattimena apologises to Suljovic over “cheater” comment
Wattimena averaged 82 on a frustrating evening (credit:Lawrence Lustig/PDC)
Jermaine Wattimena has apologised to Mensur Suljovic after branding the Austrian a “cheater” following their First Round clash at the World Matchplay in Blackpool on Sunday.
A below-par Wattimena was thrashed 10-1 by the 2018 Matchplay runner-up in a one-sided contest, and his frustrations boiled over in a post-match interview with Dutch broadcaster RTL7.
Wattimena hit out at Suljovic’s apparent attempts to slow down the tempo of the match, telling RTL7: “Darts is not like it was in the past, it’s not a fair game anymore.
“I want to recall Joe Cullen’s comments – you need to win fair matches on merit. If you want to win like this, then that’s your choice. Suljovic is a cheater.”
Having not yet heard Wattimena’s remarks, Suljovic told Live Darts he heard his opponent talking on stage while returning from the oche.
Suljovic said: “Jermaine is a very nice player, one moment he is brilliant but tonight he was no good.
“He was talking all the time when playing, this is not my problem, it’s his problem.”
Wattimena then took to social media on Monday to issue an apology to Suljovic and wish his former stablemate well for the next round – where he faces James Wade.
The 31-year-old posted: ‘I let myself be carried away by too many emotions and frustrations after the match, shouldn’t have happened!
‘I wish Mensur a lot of success in Round Two of the World Matchplay.’
Gisteren interview met @rtl7darts
Ik liet mij meeslepen door teveel emoties en frustraties na de wedstrijd, had niet mogen gebeuren!! Ik heb gewoon keihard op me reet gekregen!!Ik wens mensur heel veel succes in de 2 ronde van de world matchplay.
— Jermaine Wattimena (@machinegun180) July 22, 2019
