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Fnatic has issued an online abuse statement confirming it will take legal action and hand out permanent bans following a surge in harassment directed at its players. The UK based esports organisation says it has become aware of an increase in targeted abuse, including personal attacks and reported death threats, and is now escalating its response.

The statement, published on February 19, makes it clear that while criticism of performance is part of competitive esports, threats of violence cross a legal line.

Fnatic Confirms Zero Tolerance Policy

In its official statement, Fnatic said the “wellbeing and safety of our players are our highest priorities,” before reiterating a zero tolerance stance on online abuse. The organisation acknowledged that passion from fans is part of professional competition, but drew a firm distinction between criticism and criminal harassment.

“Let us be clear. We have zero tolerance for this behaviour,” the statement reads. Fnatic added that crossing into threats of violence is not only unacceptable, it is illegal.

According to coverage by Jonno Nicholson, reviewed by Rabia Sayal, the organisation became aware of a rise in abuse ranging from personal attacks to death threats, prompting the formal response.

Law Enforcement And Permanent Bans

As part of what Fnatic describes as an immediate action plan, the organisation confirmed it is actively documenting threats and will be reporting them to the relevant law enforcement agencies.

Alongside legal escalation, platform bans are being introduced for anyone identified as harassing players. Those individuals will be permanently removed from Fnatic’s social media channels, its Discord servers, and any future physical events hosted by the organisation.

Fnatic made it clear threats of violence are not just empty words but criminal offences, and that law enforcement will be contacted where physical harm is implied.

This dual approach, legal reporting and permanent bans, signals a shift from reactive moderation to proactive enforcement.

Impact On Fnatic Players

The decision comes amid increased scrutiny of online toxicity across several competitive titles. Esports News UK highlighted that League of Legends players Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis and Park “Lospa” Joon-hyeong reportedly stepped away from social media to protect their mental health after facing harassment.

VALORANT in game leader Jake “Boaster” Howlett has also previously been targeted by online hate, including reported death threats.

Fnatic competes across League of Legends, VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends and Rainbow Six Siege. With players already under pressure to perform at the highest level, the organisation stated that additional abuse places unnecessary mental strain on competitors.

There was also a noted increase in online abuse following Fnatic’s exit from the IEM Rio closed qualifier in January, further underlining how quickly frustration can spill over into targeted harassment.

Toxicity Remains A Broader Esports Issue

Fnatic’s statement arrives in the context of ongoing industry efforts to tackle toxic behaviour. In October 2025, French organisation Team Vitality published a report on online hate, revealing that over a two month period its players received more than 2,000 messages flagged as hateful by moderation technology solution Bodyguard.

Despite these measures, online abuse continues to surface across esports communities, especially following high profile losses or roster changes.

A Direct Message To The Community

Fnatic closed its online abuse statement with a message to supporters, urging fans to report harassment using official platform tools rather than engaging with trolls directly.

“To our players: We have your back,” the organisation said, emphasising its commitment to ensuring competitors feel safe both online and offline.

By combining legal escalation, permanent bans and a public stance, Fnatic is attempting to set a clearer boundary between passionate fandom and behaviour that crosses into criminal territory. Whether other organisations follow with similarly firm policies could shape how the wider esports ecosystem responds to abuse in the years ahead.