In League of Legends , the German team Schalke 04 is currently playing in the EU Masters, a kind of European Cup for LoL. Only 4 hours before their first match, they suspended their French jungler Ismail “Isma” Boualem. He had insulted another player in a solo queue match. Such behavior is not tolerated.
This is the situation at Schalke:
- The football club Schalke bought into the European professional league in LoL, the LEC, in 2016 and played in the league for years with moderate success. In 2021, they sold their spot in the LEC to Switzerland because they needed money to cushion the relegation from the Bundesliga during the COVID pandemic.
- Despite many player departures, Schalke managed to form a strong team in 2022 that advanced to 2nd place in the playoffs of the German Prime League. They eliminated the fan favorite Eintracht Spandau.
- Due to their good placement in the league, Schalke qualified for the EU Masters. This is a kind of European Cup where the best teams in Europe compete against each other – excluding the professional teams from the LEC.
Eintracht Spandau are the fan favorites in Germany – along with the team NNO:
Schalke suspends jungler – without much explanation
This was Schalke’s decision: On August 29, Schalke released a statement on Twitter (via twitter):
Earlier today, an incident occurred that has led us to suspend Isma effective immediately. We ask for your understanding that we cannot currently comment on the reasons.
Why was this problematic? Schalke is currently playing in the group phase of the EU Masters.
If a central core player is missing, it is hardly compensable for a LoL team, because the team trains and plays as a unit:
- While there are substitute players in LoL, it is not like in a football team where players are constantly switched.
- Normally, five core players play every match throughout a season.
- Substitutions are usually only made due to injuries, suspensions, or drastic form crises during an ongoing season – or when a player urgently needs a vacation.
Therefore, Schalke’s decision to suspend a player was viewed controversially, especially because Schalke initially did not comment on why they suspended Isma.
Jungler does not agree with the suspension – Only “very usual flames”
This is how the player reacted: The jungler disagreed with Schalke’s decision to remove him from the team.
He stated: He was suspended only 4 hours before the match against Gamesward. He admitted that he had flamed a player named Nyro in a solo queue match.
Isma said: He shouldn’t have done that, but sometimes one gives in to emotions, and he will ensure that it won’t happen again.
The jungler downplayed the event: He did not flame that badly, neither racist nor homophobic. It was “very usual flaming.”
Nevertheless, he disagreed with the decision: Because it was his first offense, and now his teammates would be affected. According to Isma, an apology would have sufficed, as he had not been warned by Schalke before.
It is a big disappointment for me. The EU Masters were what we achieved this season. It is incredibly frustrating to have put my teammates in such a situation.
Isma
Twitch streamer shows how the Schalke player flamed him
What did he do? The player with whom he had a conflict in the solo queue is the Twitch streamer Nyro. He appeared in Isma’s tweet and posted 7 screenshots, parts of the chat log.
The images show that Isma used various insults:
- “Nyro, I spit on you, fat monkey.”
- “Disgusting, you are fat in real life”
- “You stream for 300 monkeys who watch you and are happy”
- “Subhuman” (sbuhman)
Especially “subhuman” was highlighted by Nyro. It was called “racist and antisemitic” – that is not “very usual flame.”
This is the catch in the story: In Nyro’s posting, it is immediately noticeable that only the insults from Isma are visible in the chat; Nyro’s contributions are missing.
Therefore, users on Twitter suspected that the screenshots painted an inaccurate picture. Because Nyro is also well-known as a flamer in LoL, and it is assumed that he also used insults that led to Isma’s escalation.
LoL players say, however, that it is not the case that Isma has only flamed once and was punished for it, while he is otherwise a model citizen. Isma is also said to enjoy a reputation as a flamer in solo queue.
For Schalke, things do not look good in the group phase right now. Of the first 3 games, they have lost 2. If this continues, the season will be over.
Schalke says: This is real life – things we say matter
This is what Schalke said in conclusion: After the turmoil on Twitter, Schalke decided to give a detailed statement regarding the suspension.
They state that Schalke is a football club. They understand that things are different in LoL than in football. An insult in LoL may carry a different weight than in the world in which Schalke operates globally. Nevertheless, they judge everyone by the same standards and have always told everyone this:
We do not stand for hate and toxic behavior. Everyone at Schalke – players, managers, employees, board members – is requested to internalize this. We have established this as our mission.
Schalke
Schalke ends the message with the phrase: This is real life and the things we say matter.
LoL is known for its flaming:
14-year-old LoL player wins flame duel against feared Twitch streamer
As tweets and Reddit posts show, both players, Nyro and Isma, are notorious as “flamers” on the EUW server. The situation apparently escalated when they crossed paths.
Schalke’s decision is being discussed controversially
How is this being discussed? It is being discussed quite controversially.
There are players, such as LoL pro Broxah, who fully support Schalke and say: Isma’s flames were “racist” and unacceptable and deserve punishment. There is respect for Schalke’s decision.
Others say: Well, if one knows Nyro and how he behaves, then this is a “big loss” for Schalke. The entire team is being punished here. This is a slap in the faces of the Schalke players.
For Schalke, things do not look good in the group phase right now. Of the first 3 games, they have lost 2. If this continues, the season will be over.
Schalke says: This is real life – things we say matter
This is what Schalke said in conclusion: After the turmoil on Twitter, Schalke decided to give a detailed statement regarding the suspension.
They state that Schalke is a football club. They understand that things are different in LoL than in football. An insult in LoL may carry a different weight than in the world in which Schalke operates globally. Nevertheless, they judge everyone by the same standards and have always told everyone this:
We do not stand for hate and toxic behavior. Everyone at Schalke – players, managers, employees, board members – is requested to internalize this. We have established this as our mission.
Schalke
Schalke ends the message with the phrase: This is real life and the things we say matter.
LoL is known for its flaming:
14-year-old LoL player wins flame duel against feared Twitch streamer
