The ALGS Cut up One Playoffs kicked off on Feb. 2, bringing peak Apex Legends esports to London, United Kingdom.
However the event has already confronted controversy with a fan claiming on Twitter that safety allegedly pressured them to place away the Ukrainian flag they dropped at help Pioneer participant Max-Strafe—who’s competing online due to travel restrictions because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The participant later shared the tweet, saying he was grateful for followers who “expressed help in the direction of the Ukrainians and the horrible scenario wherein we discover ourselves (WAR).”
One of many followers, named Mark, advised Dot Esports he was capable of cheer for Maxstrafe with the Ukrainian flag by the primary match. He appeared within the broadcast waving the flag, however earlier than the second match, safety approached him and threatened to confiscate it if he didn’t conceal it from the cameras.
“After I tried to elucidate to the employees member that I’m Ukrainian, what the flag means to me, and why I wish to fly it, he acknowledged that flags are prohibited (one thing that was not made clear earlier than),” he defined.
Following the incident, EA reportedly introduced at the moment that “political indicators or flags that aren’t competitors associated” could be eliminated.
Max-Strafe is a Ukrainian participant who has been unable to take part in four consecutive ALGS LAN tournaments due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022.
He wasn’t capable of attend London’s offline occasion as nicely, and followers hoped to help him from afar utilizing flags. Since there are not any Ukrainian gamers within the area, EA may think about flags of the nation “not competition-related.”
Dot Esports reached out to EA Video games and Esports Engine for remark, however they’ve but to offer a solution.