The sanctions that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have also spread to the world of esports. Many Russian athletes will be banned from tournaments, while organizations originating from Russia and Belarus will be blocked in the esports wing. EA in particular is taking a tough stance on this issue. In a statement, EA said it was banning Russian and Belarusian-based organizations from apex legends and FIFA 22 tournaments. Likewise, players from both countries will not be able to participate in tournaments.
A similar response came from the ESL. The ESL announced that the leading names on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive stage Virtus.pro and Gambit were banned from season 15, and that Russian teams could compete without flags and with “neutral” names, as in the Olympics. Although Gambit has yet to comment, Virtus.pro is known to have accepted the deal.
The Rainbow Six Siege arena, where Ubisoft was cherished, was rocked by a similar statement. Explaining that they feel the tragedy in Ukraine, the producers will cease all esports activities in Russia. The RML league in Rainbow Six Siege; in Russia will also be cancelled until further notice. In order for players to compete internationally, they must accept a similar set of rules set by the ESL.
