What can get a darts player disqualified?
A · Advanced · Matches, officials and conduct · 3 of 3Players must respect their opponents and avoid annoying them, offensive language or gestures, losing on purpose, delaying play and interfering with a throw. Breaking this can mean disqualification from the tournament, though the player is heard first. Jeans-style trousers, training shoes and tracksuits are not allowed without a medical reason.
How it works
- Conduct: respect for opponents; no annoying, offensive language or gestures.
- Unsportsmanlike acts: losing a leg or match on purpose, delaying play, interfering with another player's throw.
- Penalty: disqualification from the tournament, after hearing the player.
- Disqualified mid-match: the opponent is given the match.
- Dress: no jeans or jeans-style denim or corduroy, no training shoes or tracksuits, unless for a written medical reason.
- Headgear and headphones: only on religious or medical grounds or with the organiser's permission.
- Refusing dress rules: may forfeit the match.
- Advertising: no logos without the organiser's permission; refusing to remove them before a televised match forfeits it.
- Doping: players may be tested in or out of competition.
The glossary has the conduct and disqualification (darts), the playing attire (darts), the referee (darts), the match (darts), the WDF Ranked and Sanctioned tournaments and the World Darts Federation.
Tricky cases
A player coughs loudly as the opponent throws. Is that misconduct?
Deliberately annoying the opponent or interfering with their throw is unsportsmanlike conduct.
A player turns up in jeans. Can they play?
Not until they change. Refusing can forfeit the match.
Can a disqualified player appeal?
Yes. The organiser must hear their arguments before confirming the decision.
A player is disqualified after winning a round. What happens to the draw?
They are removed, and their next opponent gets a bye.
Why the rule exists
Darts is played at close quarters, so distraction is easy and has to be firmly ruled out. The dress code is meant to give events a tidy, professional look.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct | Disqualification | WDF 15.01, 15.02 |
| Disqualification procedure | Opponent awarded the match | WDF 8.06 to 8.11 |
| Attire | No jeans, trainers or tracksuits | WDF 16.01 to 16.06 |
| Advertising and doping | Organiser's permission; WDF anti-doping rules | WDF 17, 19 |
From the rule book
World Darts Federation, Playing and Tournament Rules (twentieth revised edition, 28 February 2018), Tournament Rules 8.06 to 8.11 and 15 to 20. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WDF Playing and Tournament Rules.