British Esports Star Smooya Axed After Supporting Ukraine: Inside the Controversy at ESL Pro League
Bogdan LashchenkoSources indicate that in the upcoming ESL PRO League match, the russian team Forze will be coached by a replacement for the British player smooya.
After a defeat against the Ukrainian club Monte, smooya tweeted the slogan "Slava Ukraini" to support the Ukrainian people in their fight against the russian occupiers. He later deleted the tweet, but not before it was widely shared by both Ukrainian and Russian social media users.
Forze, which is owned by the major russian corporation Lukoil, reportedly dismissed smooya, who had been playing as a substitute in the tournament.
smooya has demonstrated his non-conformist stance, earning considerable respect. We are faced with another situation where esports shows how much it is "beyond politics".
The British player later commented on his Twitter, "There's a crazy situation unfolding here, more details to come soon."
Bogdan Lashchenko – content manager at EgamersWorld.Bogdan has been working at EGamersWorld since 2023. Joining the company, he began fillin the site with information, news and events.