TL;DR

• On 6/9, during the University of Maryland’s (UMD) semifinal match in the College Championship, multiple studio staff members reported Winston “Wezi” Zhou and Jonathan “Yang” Yang demonstrating inappropriate behavior and language in team comms in reference to opposing players and team staff
• After review of team comms and discussion with relevant studio staff, it was found that Yang made an inappropriate comment, while Wezi made repeated inappropriate comments while on stage
• After a review of the audio logs of their player comms by College Season officials, Yang is issued a $250 deduction from his scholarship and Wezi is issued a $750 deduction from his scholarship

CONTEXT

On June 9 2018, during the UMD’s semifinal match against UCI, Jonathan “Yang” Yang and Winston “Wezi” Zhou were overheard by Riot studio staff over player comms and on stage making inappropriate comments in reference to opposing teams that were unbecoming of College League of Legends players and College Championship participants.  Yang made a single inappropriate comment, while Wezi made multiple over the course of several games.

While they only made these comments amongst themselves, their player comms are recorded and observed by Riot staff members as part of the normal broadcast process, including on-stage referees to listen for potential technical problems and broadcast producers to seek out highlights.  It is additionally possible for the live audience to hear what players are saying during games.

College Season players are expected to maintain good behavior in and out of game, and especially when invited to the LCS Arena as part of the College Championship.  When a player is on stage, their actions and words are representative not only themselves and their teams, but their university and the entire College League of Legends program.

RELEVANT RULES

2018 College LoL Season Ruleset

7.1.2 Profanity and Hate Speech. A Team Member may not use language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory or otherwise offensive or objectionable; or promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct, in or near the match area, at any time. A Team Member may not use any facilities, services or equipment provided or made available by College Season or its contractors to post, transmit, disseminate or otherwise make available any such prohibited communications.

RULING

Yang and Wezi have violated rule 7.1.2 of the College Season ruleset.

• Yang will have $250 deducted from his scholarship for violating rule 7.1.2.
• Wezi will have $750 deducted from his scholarship for multiple violations of rule 7.1.2.