Austrian darts player Mensur Suljovic has issued an apology following remarks deemed sexist during the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel. The incident occurred during Suljovic’s third-round match against Ross Smith on Sunday.

Suljovic, ranked 55th in the world, was reported to the Darts Regulation Authority after his behavior on stage. As Smith was twice on the verge of winning the match, Suljovic raised his arms to prompt reactions from the crowd. The match eventually ended 6-5 in Suljovic’s favor.

During a post-match exchange conducted in German, Suljovic was alleged to have made a comment dismissing Smith’s complaints by saying, “What’s his problem? He complains like a woman.” The remarks sparked criticism and led to the regulatory referral.

In a subsequent statement, Suljovic acknowledged the offense caused by his language and expressed regret. “I’d like to apologise to Ross. My statement about women was also inappropriate — I should never have said that,” he remarked.

The Darts Regulation Authority has yet to announce further disciplinary measures, while the incident highlights ongoing concerns about conduct and language within professional darts.