Mike De Decker fumes ‘I’m not playing for my country’ as darts star fires back

Mike De Decker was subjected to vile abuse from Belgian fans after he and Dimitri Van den Bergh were beaten by the Philippines at the World Cup of Darts in June

Mike De Decker has spoken out after being subjected to vile online abuse from Belgian supporters after losing at the World Cup of Darts. The 29-year-old reigning World Grand Prix champion returned to Leicester on Tuesday to defend his maiden major crown and successfully advanced to the next stage with a 2-1 victory over an out-of-sorts Peter Wright.

While De Decker expressed his joy at reaching the last 16 and praised the backing he received from spectators at the Mattioli Arena, he highlighted the shocking abuse directed at him following Belgium’s elimination at the World Cup back in June.

De Decker and compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh suffered defeat to Philippines duo Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida in a decisive group match at the World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, which sparked a torrent of disgusting abuse towards the Belgian pair.

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During his post-match press conference on Tuesday evening, an emotional De Decker revealed: “After we lost in the World Cup, we lost in the group stages and the abuse and the hate I got from losing that made me realise that I’m not playing for my country, I’m playing for myself.

“From Belgium and from people that I see every week. When you lose a game, they will bury you. After that I said I’m not playing for my country, I’m playing for myself.”

“The abuse I got people wishing me to die or get an awful disease,” De Decker added. “It’s just been ridiculous and it’s not only me, everyone gets it. And that’s what I mean by losing at the World Cup.

“I got the same rubbish from people out of Belgium and that’s why I’m just playing for myself now and not anymore for my country.”

As Van den Bergh has slipped to 21st in the world rankings, De Decker, who is ranked 20th, has become Belgium’s top darts player but he’s not fussed about that feat. “So no, it’s not that I’m number one of Belgium now,” he said. “It doesn’t really bother me anymore.”

De Decker trailed 1-0 to two-time world champion Wright before the first break, but ‘the Real Deal’ made a comeback to win the second set 3-1 and then the third by the same scoreline to advance into the next round and set up an exciting second round match against Luke Littler.

Reflecting on his performance, De Decker said: “It was a shaky start. After the first break I got going, played well in the second and third sets, and got the job done.

“It took me a while to find my rhythm,” he continued. “I felt the pressure of defending my title – that’s new for me, and honestly, I was really nervous.

“I was here five hours early just to relax. But when they told me I had two minutes before walking on, the nerves hit again. Then you’ve got people shouting, asking for photos and autographs – it’s amazing, but intense too.”