Michael van Gerwen “annoyed” by referee Russ Bray during Premier League defeat in Aberdeen

Michael van Gerwen admits he was left “annoyed” by referee Russ Bray following his defeat in the final of Night 11 of the Premier League in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Having led 4-2, Van Gerwen was eventually beaten 6-5 by Jonny Clayton in the final at the P&J Live and subsequently surrendered top spot in the league table to the Welshman.

Clayton, who had earlier defeated home favourites Gary Anderson and Peter Wright en route to the final, was subject to booing and whistling from the partisan Scottish crowd.

Bray was forced to intervene at various stages of the final, but the whistling continued into the deciding leg.

Van Gerwen, however, appeared unhappy with Bray’s timing of “thank you” prior to his throw and the pair were involved in a heated exchange at the end of the match.

“I was so annoyed by the referee,” Van Gerwen told Sportnieuws.nl. “I think he put his stamp on this match too much.

“That ‘thank you’ from him to the crowd happens every time I have to throw.

“But I can’t blame that, I just have to learn from this.”

Speaking to Dutch broadcasters ViaPlay, Van Gerwen added: “It was extremely irritating. I was dissatisfied because of my own game, but the referee made a mistake.

“I have a whistling audience a hundred times a year, that’s part of it, but now every time I wanted to throw it, he turned to say something.

“As a referee he doesn’t have the authority to kick anyone out, and it was clear that one annoying whistler wouldn’t stop. Still he went on. That distracts me.”

BET £10 AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU REGISTER HERE (18+ | T&Cs APPLY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbO_Rc4DS2s