Nathan Aspinall is in trouble because of this moment he had at the Players Championship 13. Listen to him shouting:“These boards are f*cking wank.”
DRA Christmas party loading pic.twitter.com/Ua4KdzFs6E
— Jeremy (@Jeremy7105) April 14, 2025
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) takes a firm stance against unprofessional behavior, and given similar past incidents have resulted in fines, it’s highly likely that The Asp will face the same consequences. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is known for its strict policies on player conduct—not just on stage, but off it as well.
The fact that this particular incident happened in front of the cameras made it even more ill-advised for the current world number seven. However, even when incidents occur away from public view, such actions rarely go unpunished. We’ve seen a wide range of fines handed out in the past.
One infamous example involved Gary Anderson and Wesley Harms during the Grand Slam of Darts, when both players accused each other of passing wind on stage. While the investigation didn’t yield concrete evidence, both were reprimanded for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In a separate case, a drunken remark from Peter Wright also resulted in disciplinary action, proving that even offhand comments can have financial consequences.
Rob Cross, too, crossed the line with a prohibited act, which could lead to a fine under current PDC regulations.
Gerwyn Price received one of the heaviest fines in PDC history—£21,500—following his controversial celebrations and confrontational behavior towards Gary Anderson during the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts. His actions were deemed highly inappropriate.
Adrian Lewis was both fined and suspended after a physical altercation with José Justicia at a Pro Tour event in 2018. Even though he later apologized, the incident was taken very seriously.
Not all penalties, however, have stemmed from serious offenses—some have been more amusing in nature.
Wayne Mardle, for instance, was once penalized for being too playful on stage. Known for his energetic dance moves and crowd-pleasing antics during his walk-on, Mardle was warned—and later fined—for not treating his match with enough seriousness, as his behavior was seen as distracting to his opponent.
Paul Nicholson was fined for an overly provocative walk-on performance. Wearing sunglasses and oozing bravado, his entrance was intended to entertain, but the DRA found it excessive.
Mensur Suljović was fined for extremely slow play, which, while not funny on paper, became a running joke among fans who joked about being able to brew a cup of coffee between his throws. The DRA, however, considered it detrimental to the flow of the game.