The ban has been retroactively applied to begin on March 12, the day the DRA first suspended him.
The incident happened on March 9 during the Nuneaton Darts Open, an amateur competition held at the Lucky Break Sports & Pool Bar in Nuneaton. Smith-Neale lost a match in that match.
According to a DRA statement, Smith-Neale is accused of assault and threatening behavior in this case.
When Smith-Neale’s opponent extended his hand after the match, Smith-Neale struck him in the face. The event was caught on camera and received a lot of media coverage. The DRA placed Smith-Neale on administrative leave until a hearing.
“During the court, Smith-Neale admitted to the charges against him and stated that he punched the man because he felt frightened by him. The committee did not entirely agree with this.”
He has the option to appeal the ruling, according to the DRA.
In 2023, Smith-Neale was able to get back his Professional Darts Corporation tour card. At the time of the incident, he was ranked 82, but he is currently down to 88.
