League of Legends Player Arrested and Denied Visa, Sent Back to Germany
Marcel “Dexter” Feldkamp, a professional League of Legends player from Germany, was arrested last night at an airport terminal in Washington. Feldkamp, who recently joined team Counter Logic Gaming (CLG), was on his way to California to meet up with his team. Unfortunately, his Visa was denied and he is being sent back to Germany.
Feldkamp documented his travel woes on Twitter, expressing frustration with delayed flights, lost luggage, and being searched. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was arrested and his Visa was cancelled. He described the experience as the worst of his life and criticized homeland security for their strict actions.
CLG reassured fans through Twitter that they are uncertain about the situation and are waiting for Feldkamp’s athlete Visa to be approved before he can come back. The team’s General Manager released a statement expressing disappointment and confusion over the denial of Feldkamp’s access to the US.
In the meantime, CLG will need to find a substitute for Feldkamp while he works to return to the country. Brian “TrickZ” Ahn, who previously played with CLG on a trial basis, is one possible option.
Athlete visas for professional gamers were introduced in the US in July 2013. Feldkamp’s arrest and denial of Visa follows the recent approval of a visa for StarCraft 2 pro player Kim “Violet” Dong. The season is just weeks away, so CLG will need to act quickly to secure a replacement for Feldkamp.