Controversial League of Legends Team Rich Gang eThugs Faces Third Competitive Suspension
Australian team Rich Gang eThugs, competing in the Oceanic Pro League (OPL), has been hit with their third competitive ruling suspension in three months, causing quite a stir in the League of Legends community.
Known for their controversial style, the Rich Gang eThugs are managed by Stevie “poopsteve420” Highroller, who promotes the team through social media and parody videos, often poking fun at the thug life.
However, their behavior has not been well received by fans or Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends. In a Facebook post, the team claimed that Riot is intentionally targeting their players, as they do not fit the image desired by the company.
The team’s rap sheet provides evidence to support their claim. In January, former member Sam “Paws” Pourzinal was permanently banned from the game for elo boosting, a violation he had already been punished for in the past. In February, another member, Dayshifted, was suspended for seven weeks due to verbal harassment, including sexual harassment and encouraging suicide. Today, Andre “Rich Homie Dre” Brandle received his own seven-week suspension for frequently being reported in his recent games.
The manager of the team conducted an AMA on Reddit, acknowledging the toxic behavior within the team and admitting that some members take it too far. This was proven true with Brandle’s latest suspension, as he was found to be harassing other players with offensive comments.
Riot Games’ recent proactive approach to player behavior in the Oceanic region is considered by some to be a necessary step, as the absence of a tribunal system results in increased toxicity within the server.
Aside from the eThugs, Dire Wolves’ player Richard “Perfection” Shu also received a one-week suspension for using offensive language.
Despite the controversy surrounding the team, their poor performance in the league may lead to their relegation to the Summer qualifier, making it challenging for the team to bounce back from their suspensions.
Nevertheless, the Rich Gang eThugs remain resilient, and their spirit cannot be easily brought down.
League of Legends, Rich Gang eThugs, competitive suspension, controversy, Riot Games