World Grand Prix Darts 2025: Mike De Decker Hits Back at Horrific Abuse from Home Fans

Reigning World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker kicked off his title defence in emphatic fashion, defeating two-time world champion Peter Wright 2-1 in a hard-fought opening-round encounter.

Belgium’s Lone Flag Bearer

But while the Belgian was pleased to advance, the result itself was far from the main talking point after the match. 

Instead, De Decker used his post-match interview to open up about the vicious online abuse he has suffered in recent months, and how it has fundamentally changed his relationship with representing his country.

Belgium has long been considered one of darts’ most passionate nations outside of the UK and the Netherlands, producing major stars like Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh. Yet with both of those names struggling for form, De Decker has emerged as Belgium’s number one thrower, and the sole Belgian competing in this year’s World Grand Prix.

Fallout from the World Cup of Darts

For many, that would be a proud responsibility, flying the flag for a nation that has fallen in love with the sport. But for De Decker, that pride has been replaced by disappointment and disillusionment following the torrent of abuse he’s received since the 2025 World Cup of Darts, where he and Van den Bergh suffered a shock early exit.

At that event, the Belgian duo failed to make it out of the group stage after a stunning defeat to the Philippines. It was a major setback, but one that spiralled into something much darker.

Toxic Reaction from Home Supporters

De Decker revealed how the reaction back home turned toxic, with fans turning on him in a wave of hate messages and personal attacks that left him questioning why he was competing for the national team at all.

“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,” he told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

“I’m not playing for my country, I’m playing for myself”

For a player who once took great pride in representing Belgium, those words are a sobering reflection of how fan behaviour can corrode an athlete’s sense of identity and motivation.

De Decker admitted that being labelled Belgium’s number one now carries little emotional weight for him, not because of arrogance, but because of how his experiences have hardened him.

“So no, it's not that I'm number one of Belgium now. It doesn't really bother me anymore.”

The 29-year-old explained that the criticism hasn’t just come from strangers on social media, but from people he interacts with regularly, adding a painful layer of betrayal to the ordeal.

“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.”

Abuse That Crossed the Line

The messages he’s received haven’t been harmless jibes or frustrated fan reactions. 

According to De Decker, some have crossed an unforgivable line, with individuals wishing him harm and even death.

“The abuse I got people wishing me to die or get an awful disease. It's just been ridiculous and it's not only me, everyone gets it. And that's what I mean with losing at the World Cup. I got the same crap from people out of Belgium and that's why I'm just playing for myself now and not anymore for my country.”

It’s a brutally honest confession from a player still in the early stages of what could be a major breakthrough season. 

His words highlight a growing issue in modern sport, where social media gives fans direct access to athletes, often with damaging consequences.