Walk-on girls will no longer be used by the Professional Darts Corporation, the Press Association has been told.
Women have accompanied players onto the stage for some years – something which has been regularly criticised – and the PDC has decided to act, starting at this weekend’s Masters in Milton Keynes.
“We regularly review all aspects of our events and this move has been made following feedback from our host broadcasters,” a spokesperson told Press Association Sport.
The move has triggered a petition to reinstate the girls. On Friday night it had over 3,000 signatures and was backed by former world champion Raymond van Barneveld.
“I will really miss the girls !! For me they are a part of the darts,” he wrote.
I will really miss the girls !! For me they are a part of the darts. Sign their petition so they hopefully can keep their jobs @Charl0ttewood : https://t.co/FqhlOWY7tG https://t.co/YEpdtrwUqb
— Raymond v Barneveld (@Raybar180) January 26, 2018
The PDC’s move will likely increase pressure on other sports, such as boxing and F1, to review their use of ring and grid girls.
