Brisbane Roar player Connor “Envy” Stewart has been disqualified from the 2023 E-League.
- On Wednesday March 29, 2023 Brisbane Roar player Connor “Envy” Stewart purposely disconnected from multiple games prior to match completion
- The league has received confirmation from EA’s global security team that Stewart engaged in account sharing of their league-supplied account and was not playing their games on Wednesday March 8, 2023. This is strictly against E-League policy and is a zero tolerance offence
- Stewart has been disqualified from the E-League 2023 season, and is receiving an indefinite suspension from competing in any future E-League competitions as a result of this behaviour and account sharing
Context
During Group B fixture round 1, match 1 on Wednesday March 29, 2023 (BRI Envy vs. SYD Marko) in the second match leg, Stewart prematurely disconnected from the game prior to match completion.
There was no message sent to tournament staff from Stewart explaining the sudden disconnection, and Stewart also purposely removed themselves from the E-League competition Discord server, which is used as the primary means of communication between tournament staff and players in real time. This meant that to reach Stewart, the issue was escalated to the league commissioner to contact them directly via mobile.
Stewart was warned that if they did not show up for their second scheduled match that night, or this unacceptable behaviour was repeated, it may result in disqualification from the tournament. Stewart confirmed at this time they would be playing this second match.
During Group B fixture round 4, match 1 on Wednesday March 29, 2023 (WSW Negede vs. BRI Envy) in the first match leg, Stewart again purposely disconnected from the game prior to the match completing, and again removed themselves from the E-League competition Discord, rendering tournament staff unable to reach the player. No explanation or apology was given to tournament staff by Stewart.
Additionally, after receiving reports alleging account sharing on Stewart’s behalf, the EA global security team were engaged by the E-League league ops team to investigate. As of Friday April 14, 2023 it has been confirmed that during two matches on Wednesday March 8, it was not Stewart competing on their league-supplied account. This is a serious breach of the E-League Code of Conduct and the 2023 ruleset.
E-League competitors are held to a high standard when it comes to competitive integrity and sportsmanship. This kind of behaviour is not tolerated within the league and is in direct violation of the E-League Code of Conduct, which all competitors agree to adhere to upon registering for the season.
Relevant Rules
4.9 Intentional Disconnects
If a Competitor intentionally disconnects from the game and is not able to reconnect to the game, then a loss will be given to that Competitor. The Referee will determine in its sole and absolute discretion whether a disconnect was intentional.
E-League Code of Conduct: Participant behaviour
1 – Members must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, maintaining an appropriate demeanour to spectators, members of the press, competition administrators (including APL staff and contracted staff) and to other Members.
4 – (r) any action that interferes with play of a game, including but not limited to purposely breaking a game station, interfering with power, and abuse of in-game pausing.
Ruling
Stewart has violated the E-League Code of Conduct after engaging in account sharing of their league-supplied account, and repeated instances of unsportsmanlike behaviour during gameplay.
As a result, Stewart has been disqualified from the 2023 season and is receiving an indefinite suspension from competing in any future E-League competitions. Stewart is also ineligible to receive the league-supplied player stipend for competing in the E-League 2023 season.
Q&A
What does this mean for the current Group B standings and future scheduled fixtures involving Stewart?
After much deliberation, due to the disqualification of Stewart from the league and considering how far we are through the season, all scores from Stewart’s previous matches will be invalidated and removed from the Group B ladder.
This will mean for the remainder of the group stage, Group B will be treated as an 11 player group. The tournament administration team believe this to be the fairest outcome for the remaining Group B players.
All other matches will be played as specified in an updated fixtures schedule, with byes for any matches that would have included Stewart.
Does Brisbane Roar have the option to replace Stewart with a substitute player for the remainder of the regular season?
While in some cases it would be appropriate to allow a substitute player into the league, due to how progressed the group stage is, to enter at this point and make playoffs it would require too many extra and/or replayed games to sufficiently onboard a new player into the league.
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All other inquiries regarding this ruling can be directed to league commissioner Josh Swift (eleague@lowkii.tv).
