In League of Legends , a professional player in the US LCS was fined $5,000 for wearing Crocs shoes. However, this turned out to be a stroke of luck for his team.
Who was punished?
- It affected player Rayan “Sniper” Shoura, a 17-year-old Canadian. The young man plays for 100 Thieves on the top lane in the LCS.
- Sniper was considered a LoL prodigy: at just 12, Sniper was a number 1 Challenger. He made headlines in 2020 when Cloud9 illegally signed him as a 14-year-old – which they were not allowed to do.
- However, when he was 15, he received a contract from 100 Thieves and made a name for himself in the youth team by winning 17 matches in a row. Since November 2023, he has been allowed to play with the professionals.
Pro player wears open-toe Crocs – fined $5,000 for it
What was he punished for? Sniper wore Crocs on stage, and because the toes were visible in the Crocs, this was a violation of Riot Games’ “uniform rules” and was penalized with $5,000.
The rules for LoL games stipulate that players must wear their team’s official uniform, which includes pants and shoes that cover the toes.
Crocs pays the fine, enters partnership with the team
This was the reaction: 100 Thieves hinted on Twitter that they contacted Crocs. They then took on the $5,000 fine.
In the next match, the whole team of 100 Thieves appeared with Crocs, but this time with closed shoes.
Once again, the LoL professionals showcase their excellent acting talents:
Meanwhile, Crocs and 100 Thieves have formed a partnership. This is probably clever marketing.
The eSports team “100 Thieves” holds a special position anyway. The team is greatly influenced by influencers, and its boss, Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, comes from the scene himself.
Besides their eSports successes, 100 Thieves are particularly known for their clothing line. They are into fashion and marketing and have also faced criticism for it:
Call of Duty, LoL: “€114 for a hoodie?” – Accusations of price gouging against eSports clan
