Gerwyn Price admits he will have to ‘grin and bear’ whatever comes his way after ear defenders ban

Gerwyn Price admits he will have to ‘grin and bear’ whatever comes his way after being BANNED from wearing ear defenders to block out raucous crowds at future events following PDC clampdown

Gerwyn Price has admitted he will have to ‘grin and bear’ whatever comes his way after being banned from wearing ear defenders at future darts events.

The former world No 1 shocked the Alexandra Palace crowd last month by putting on ear defenders midway through his quarter-final with Gabriel Clemens to block out the raucous atmosphere.

However, they did not have the desired effect and the 37-year-old crashed out of the tournament following a tumultuous week, in which he had also made an offensive gesture that appeared to mock the disabled.

Price has been banned from wearing defenders from now on after the PDC clamped down on its rules.

The amended regulations state: ‘Players are not permitted to wear earphones, headphones or headphone-type ear defenders during the throw at the bull prior to the match or during matchplay.’ 

Gerwyn Price has been banned from wearing ear defenders at future events after he shocked the Alexandra Palace crowd last month

Price wore the ear defenders to block out the raucous crowds but lost in the quarter-finals to Gabriel Clemens anyway

Price wore the ear defenders to block out the raucous crowds but lost in the quarter-finals to Gabriel Clemens anyway

Price will however be allowed to wear in-ear plugs to block out noise  if he wishes – something donned by veterans Raymond van Barneveld and Mervyn King before.

But Price, speaking ahead of the start of this year’s Premier League in Belfast tonight, said as per Sky Sports: ‘I wore the ear defenders once and I won’t be wearing them again. It’s best left at that if I’m honest with you.

‘I’m not a fan of in-ear plugs that Mervyn King wears. I’ve just got to grin and bear with whatever comes my way like I have the last couple of years, and just play darts.

‘I’m here to play darts. I’m here to do the best I can, whatever is thrown at me. That’s all I can do, so looking forward to playing in Belfast and Cardiff next week. 

‘Hopefully I can reward the crowd again with some good darts and hopefully one or two nine-darters as well.

Price is gearing up for the start of the Premier League season which kicks off at the SSE Arena in Belfast

Price is gearing up for the start of the Premier League season which kicks off at the SSE Arena in Belfast

‘I want to do well in the Premier League right now. I’m here to win. Right here, right now, this is where I play well.’

The opening night, which will see world No 4 Price take on No 9 Nathan Aspinall, will take place at the SSE Arena in Belfast with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on May 25.

The pick of the ties on the opening night sees Michael Smith take on Michael van Gerwen in a repeat of the World Darts Championship final. 

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