Michael van Gerwen makes position crystal clear on trans star Noa-Lynn van Leuven ahead of darts match

The 28-year-old has been a controversial figure within the sporting world. Earlier this year, Deta Hedman pulled out of a match against the transgender star in protest.

But Van Gerwen has defended his upcoming opponent, with the 35-year-old feeling sorry for Van Leuven and the criticism she's received.

He told AD.nl: "It's just heartbreaking. She does what she does and she can play terrific darts.

"Let her play nice. For me, there's never been a discussion, but I don't make the rules.

"The PDC has people who go over them. They can never make the right choice anyway.

"If they go left, people say they should go right and vice versa. Everyone has an opinion about it, but there is no point at all in continuing to argue."

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Van Gerwen also insisted it's nobody's business what Van Leuven, or other trans players, decide to do.

"People do ask for my opinion, but this is none of my business, is it? You have to let everyone have their own value.

"Where someone comes from? What someone looks like? What difference does that make? Even if you're from Pluto.

"Of course people are allowed to have a different opinion, but I don't understand why people get so angry about it. I think there are much worse things in the world to worry about."

READ MORE:Luke Humphries doesn't hold back on trans darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven - 'The only thing I can suggest'

The 35-year-old will not, however, take his opponent lightly.

Though he feels sorry for Van Leuven, nothing will stand in the way of his desire to win the tournament.

"Are you crazy? I can't make mistakes. I have to be sharp and hurt her," he continued.

"In the end, they are all competitors and they all have to go at it."

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Meanwhile, Luke Humphries has also been asked about Van Leuven.

And the world No 1 insists she deserves to play, saying: “Of course I have sympathy for her because she’s a human and no-one likes being abused online.

“She gets it a lot. But unfortunately, we all do. I get it as well for no reason sometimes. It’s the way life is nowadays.

“The world can be a negative place and people just want to abuse people and bring them down. And that’s just the way it is.

“The only thing I can suggest is to stay off social media, because it’s not a nice place at all. Every sport has their rules and she qualifies in the rules.

"So, as much as it might annoy people, she’s not doing anything that’s illegal, she’s not cheating.

“She’s doing what’s in the rules. If that changes, then things will change. But she’s not doing anything physically wrong.

“So, no-one can blame her, she’s well within the rights to do what she does at the moment."