UPDATE 13/01/2025: All members have been paid and the situation is now resolved.
Akroma, a French organization competing in the LFL Division 2, is facing financial difficulties, according to sources from their staff and players who spoke to Sheep Esports. Communication between the organization and its members has been strained, leaving many affected individuals frustrated. In December, the departure of Akroma from the League of Legends ecosystem
was announced, marking an uncertain future for the organization. During their last summer split, Akroma finished in sixth place out of ten teams in the LFL Division 2.
Payment Delays and Impact
Payment delays began in the offseason, with salaries for September 2024 paid late but resolved by November. However, at the time of writing this article, all players and staff are still awaiting their November payments, and at least three individuals have not been paid for October 2024 either.
The financial strain caused by these delays has severely impacted those involved. Many were forced to borrow money to make ends meet, with some moving back in with their parents or relying on them for rent. In one case, an individual had their electricity cut off, while another could not visit a sick relative during an urgent situation. Many also had to budget strictly, cutting back on essentials such as food to navigate the challenging months. These hardships were detailed by Stanimir "Stasko" Ganev, Akroma’s former head coach, who shared the challenges faced by the team and staff in coping with the financial instability.
Breakdown in Communication and Leadership
According to Stanimir "Stasko" Ganev, players and staff reported that their only point of contact has been Akroma’s manager, who has struggled to reach higher-ups within the organization. Ganev stated, "We were told there is no CEO or leadership because the CEO left the company due to a non-competition clause with Fekra, his father’s company. This has led to a legal dispute over leadership between Fekra and the former CEO."
Numerous reasons were given for payment delays, ranging from an accountant being on holiday to the absence of a CEO. "At no point did anyone provide another person we could reach out to. Everyone just threw up their hands and said, ‘I’m not involved or can’t help,’” Ganev explained. He also noted that the CEO made minimal public statements about the situation, only sporadically responding to individual messages from players. Despite claiming no access to Akroma’s accounts, the CEO reportedly sent money to one player after a heated exchange.
Response from Akroma’s Former CEO
Sheep Esports reached out to Akroma by email, receiving a quick and detailed response from the former CEO. He explained that Akroma’s financial troubles stem from the sale of a Fekra Group subsidiary earlier this year, which contributed 35% of Akroma’s funding. Due to a non-competition agreement signed during the sale, the CEO had to choose between continuing his involvement with Akroma or staying with Fekra. He opted to leave Akroma by the end of September 2024.
Since then, efforts to resolve the situation have been hindered by Fekra’s reluctance to part with its shares in Akroma, citing significant past investments. Fekra has taken over management of the organization and assured the former CEO that payments for Q4 2024 (October–December) will be settled between November 2024 and January 2025. Moving forward, Akroma’s operations as an esports team will be paused in 2025 to allow time to resolve these ownership disputes.
The former CEO expressed deep regret for the hardships caused, stating, “It was never my intention for Akroma to face these challenges, and I am committed to finding a resolution that benefits all parties involved as soon as I can.”
Webedia’s Limited Role
Both players and staff, as well as Sheep Esports, contacted Webedia, the company overseeing the LFL ecosystem, seeking assistance. However, Webedia has limited ability to intervene, as Akroma is no longer part of the League of Legends ecosystem.
Payment delays are not uncommon in the esports industry. Even prominent organizations in the LEC and LFL have encountered payment delays in 2024. ViV Esports, another organization that competed in the LFL Division 2 in 2023, faced more serious payment issues, with delays spanning multiple months. This ultimately led to their staff and players leaving the team mid-season,
as reported by Sheep Esports last year.
