"Riot kills what esport needs the most" — LEC Community Slams Riot Games Over Warnings Issued to nuc and Way

In the final days of the LEC 2026 Summer Regular Season, Shifters midlaner Ilias “” Bizriken and Team Heretics support Han “” Gil received official warnings from Riot Games for unbecoming conduct. The sanctions were issued in response to incidents involving their behavior during the matchup between the two bottom-table teams on August 28, where, according to Riot Games, the banter went too far, with the players making obscene gestures.

What Riot viewed as misconduct, much of the scene saw as exactly the kind of energy the LEC has been missing, arguing that this over-sanitized approach is one of the factors contributing to the declining hype around the league.

Hooligans head coach Tim “Sh0x” Jannik Rücker expressed his frustration with Riot’s decision, stating that, in the name of professionalism, the publisher “kills what esport needs the most: personalities.” “Why do we have to give warning to two players who are enjoying themselves and doing harmless things?” Sh0x tweeted. “Riot tries to look professional in any possible way but just kills what esport needs the most: personalities. Legit no one was harmed or insulted any kind of way.”

Responding to Sheep Esports’ tweet, PCIFIC Esports’ assistant coach and analyst Zeus Mora “Zeus” Corredera shared a similar sentiment, noting that “there is nothing disrespectful, they did that while laughing, no one took it personal.”

Both Nuc and Way, who were subject to the penalty, responded to the story. First, the South Korean AD Carry responded tentatively, saying, “Was fun.... thank you, Riot,” along with a few sad emojis. Probably not feeling sorry for himself, Nuc just enjoyed saying that Way was unlucky to get caught

While both teams have been eliminated from LEC Summer, they certainly succeeded in giving the community one of the most entertaining banter exchanges of the tournament. Moreover, this was nuc’s last tournament, as he takes a break from competitive League of Legends.

In his final farewell post, before this news, nuc emphasized that teams essentially do an “entertainment job” and that harmless banter makes matches livelier not just for fans, but for the players as well.

“It's the end, friends, it was a pleasure, we’ll catch up very soon. I hope you at least enjoyed our last games, we do an entertainment job, and I think we make it a bit too serious when it comes to our careers, etc., which is totally legit, but we should be able to combine the two because it makes the matches so much more lively for you and for us,” nuc stated.

This point was also raised by Thomas “” Foucou, who expressed his bewilderment by starting with “LOL, what a shame.” “You add a little entertainment and you get a warning,” he added later, thereby also highlighting that the league lacks excitement.

On June 3, 2026, Riot Games sanctioned Movistar KOI and Karmine Corp following a public dispute surrounding their Madrid Roadtrip event. Both organizations were fined €5,000 for conduct deemed unbecoming of an LEC team member and received formal warnings. Movistar KOI midlaner Jojopyun was also fined €2,000 and given a warning for his on-broadcast comments during their following match. The Canadian received his second warning for the same offense within a year and remains the only MKOI player with an active disciplinary sanction.

League of Legends is not the only title where Riot Games has received massive criticism for handing out punishment over similar misconduct. During the first-ever VALORANT Game Changers Championship held in 2022, the publisher suspended Shopify Rebellion GC’s head coach Rob “Robwiz” Kennedy for an “offensive gesture” shortly after the semi-final. The team ultimately lost to G2 Gozen in the Grand Final after a heartbreaking reverse sweep, which resulted in even more criticism from the team’s fans.