Some LCS players are considering a protest due to the recent junior controversy surrounding the American LoL League.
There has been a huge outcry from the American LoL community in recent weeks. The controversy is about a decision by Riot Games that no longer requires LCS teams to field a junior team. In order to express the community”s displeasure, the LCS Players Association now wants to encourage players to go on strike.
Controversy around junior teams
On 12 May, Riot Games announced in a blog post that it was rescinding a rule. This announcement led to a huge outcry in the American League of Legends scene.
Riot Games announced in the blog that the teams of the LCS are no longer obliged to field a Tier 2 team in the junior league (NACL).
In view of the current increasingly negative developments in the American professional league, this led to harsh criticism from the community and the LCS players” association.
The anger about the change reached a maximum when shortly after the announcement only 3 teams held on to their junior teams.
Riot gave each team $3 million this year to operate in LCS + NACL, but only 3 could afford to spend 15-20% of that to promote the future of NACL? Shame on Riot for letting teams get away with it and shame on every team that pocketed the future of the league. pic.twitter.com/cop8gne6rI
– LCS Players Association (@NALCSPA) May 18, 2023
To give LCS teams a chance to stand up for their colleagues and teammates, Investigative Journalist Mikhail Klimentov says a vote will be taken this weekend on a potential protest action.
Are LoL pros going on strike soon?
According to Klimentov, a vote will be taken this coming Sunday on a potential strike to disrupt the first day of LCS play.
BREAKING: The @NALCSPA has asked LCS players to vote Sunday on a walkout in protest of changes to the NACL.
“If we have 26 out of 50 of the LCS players willing to do something, I can tell you right now, the league”s not running,” @Phillip_Aram said.
More in my story, below. pic.twitter.com/H5IC3QgTDF
– ℳikhail Klimentov (@LeaderGrev) May 23, 2023
It remains to be seen whether the action will actually take place and players will decide to boycott Riot”s decision.
However, some (former) professionals have already responded to the controversy and are in favour of keeping the junior teams, including former Immortals top laner Mohamed “Revenge” Kaddoura:
Playing in academy was what gave me the opportunity to play in LCS, this will easily kill the future of the LCS https://t.co/ZbcLZxuoLt
– Mo Kaddoura (@Revengeleague) May 12, 2023
The Esport player explains that the LCS”s junior system gave him the opportunity to play in the pro league in the first place and that Riot”s move will “kill the future of the LCS”. Juan Arturo “Contractz” Garcia, current jungler for NRG, also expressed his disappointment at the recent developments via Twitter:
very disheartening seeing the foundation of NA being torn away. we”re going in the wrong direction. I wouldn”t be the player I am today without this system https://t.co/5ukmhCYE4G
– Contractz (@Contractz) May 12, 2023
Looking at what the pros are saying, it”s not unlikely that some LCS players will be in favour of a strike to start the summer split.
The vote is due to take place at 8:30pm (Pacific time) on Sunday, according to Klimentov.
It remains to be seen whether a majority will vote in favour of the protest action. However, should this be the case, it would be one of the first collective actions of the American League of Legends League.
