A darts star stormed out of a post-match press conference after his 3-0 second-round win over Wessel Nijman at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The 35-year-old bemoaned the media’s lack of respect towards him and cited his Dutch opponent’s previous controversies.
Nijman served a ban for breaching betting and anti-corruption rules in 2020, when was suspended for fixing a game. He admitted to accepting payment to ensure he would lose the match 4–0.
Joe Cullen limited reporters to short answers in his on-stage interview at Alexandra Palace, before dramatically exiting his post-match press conference shortly after.
‘Honestly, the media attention that Wessel’s got, again this is not a reflection on him, he seems like a fantastic kid,’ Cullen said.
‘He’s been caught up in a few things beforehand but he’s served his time and he’s held his hands up, like a lot haven’t.
Joe Cullen stormed out of his post-match press conference after his second-round win
Wessel Nijman suffered a two-and-a-half-year ban for breaching anti-corruption rules in 2020
‘I think the way I’ve been treated probably with the media and things like that – I know you guys have no control over the bookies – I’ve been shown no respect, so I won’t be showing any respect to any of you guys tonight.
‘I’m going to go home. Cheers,’ he added, before suddenly leaving the press conference.
The world No 23 scored an impressive three-dart average of 98.18 across his match with Nijman and threw eight 180s.
He will face 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price in the third round later in the week.
