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Competitive Ruling: Li "Vasilii" Wei Jun

Riot··2 votes·33,371 views

On Oct 27, we suspended Li "Vasilii" Wei Jun for audible threats of physical violence toward his girlfriend on his October 26 personal stream. After that, we conducted a deeper investigation into the incident:

We have questioned both Vasilii and his girlfriend separately, both remotely and in person. Both of them denied that Vasilii physically assaulted her, and there is no conclusive evidence to the contrary. 

Although the investigation results don’t show proof that Vasilii physically assaulted his girlfriend, he made credible threats of physical violence and death threats toward a defenseless person in a private home that were intimidating enough for her to call the police. This is unacceptable.

We consider Vasilii’s behavior particularly egregious, beyond the worst kinds of extreme misconduct that we originally had in mind when we devised the Global Penalty Index. As specified in the GPI, we reserve the right to modify the Maximum Suspension Time due to aggravating circumstances. We consider the fact that threats of domestic abuse were made - and that they were made toward a defenseless person and in a private residence - to be aggravating factors. Whereas making these threats toward another another professional player on stage might warrant a 10 month suspension, physical intimidation and threats of domestic abuse should be punished much more harshly.  Additionally, Vasilii has been punished for violent tendencies before - in an incident last year he showed physical aggression onstage, smashing a keyboard and physically intimidating a camera operator during a match.

Penalty

Vasilii will be receiving a 20 competitive month ban. Competitive months, per the GPI, are Jan-Oct. - as such, Vasilii will be banned effectively until the start of split 1 in January 2020.

Changes to the Global Penalty Index

When we looked closer at individual cases like this, we realized that the Extreme Misconduct category of the Global Penalty Index has a wide range of offenses that would fall under it. The current limitation of 10 months would not be appropriate for cases such as actual domestic abuse, which would warrant an Indefinite Suspension. To account for these kinds of cases and the wide range of offenses that could be considered extreme misconduct, effective immediately we are adjusting the Maximum Suspension Time for Extreme Misconduct to “Indefinite” to account for the most extreme acts of misconduct.

45 Comments

Ick10 votes

LUL bye Vasili. You'll still be trash in 2 years. Don't come back. Don't need you. Riot doesn't need you.

Espy Psyche10 votes

He's donezo anyway. He's not coming back. It's not a permanent ban? Doesn't matter -- he won't be back.

  1. Nobody will want the wife-beater on their team. No brand will destroy its image that way. This isn't the NFL and we aren't NFL fans -- we are responsive to that sort of thing. NFL fans are religiously devoted to their teams and brand loyalty is fierce there. Regardless of what Zirene said, that's not a good thing. That religious brand loyalty the NFL has is what lets wife-beaters and rapists stay in the NFL. The brands know fans will stay regardless. We don't have that in e-sports. We don't have the religious brand loyalty that people are willing to commit violence over. We don't have the testosterone-fueled fans who think that's acceptable. We won't tolerate that -- just look at the comments. "Only 20 months for beating his girlfriend", the fans want it to be permanent. Any team that picks him up when he comes back would lose fan support.

  2. He'll come back at 25 -- old in gamer years. His best years of play are behind him. He'll come back a husk of what he was, having no synergy with anyone and being used to the solo queue environment. It'll require a complete shift that he won't have the time for. By the time he's allowed to play again, comes back, gets a team, melds with that team, sheds his solo queue habits he'll pick up over his two year ban, and is a viable force on the Rift again? He'll be old enough that his mechanics and reflexes will have deteriorated and he won't be good enough to play at the highest level any more.

He's gone. Good riddance.

Mig891 votes

This. And from what I understand he wasnt the greatest to begin with. An individual like this wont get a second chance after his ban. If Faker did it and got the same punishment I could see a team give him a second chance but when some nobody does things like this they get blacklisted pretty quickly. Even in the NFL.

C9 Magnus2 votes

Or he comes back like Jensen or IWillDominate and becomes the face of a brand. Plus he didn't actually hit anyone, he just made death threats. [slayer-jinx-wink]

xJLx MCHammer7 votes

Only 20 months for beating his girlfriend?

Nice one riot!

Didn't you give one people permanent bans for just being toxic. Yet, someone is doing actual violence and there you give the person 20 months ban. On the bright side, you aren't as bad as NFL, am I right

byakugan12311 votes

did you not read the article he didnt physically harm her if he did it would be a permanent ban

Pliskin135 votes

still what he did was enough lmao, he deserves perma and ban on sight

xJLx MCHammer3 votes

{quoted}

did you not read the article he didnt physically harm her if he did it would be a permanent ban

I actually did

Did you read the initial report? She claimed he hit her and that it was the first time.

It's only after this blew up that she recanted saying, "no, he only smashed furniture"

datmuemue3 votes

She said that to get police on the site. She was not assaulted physically. While it does not make what happened better, it still is vastly different than if he would have. the key part is that they both deny the physical assault and there were no proof that there was: "Although the investigation results don’t show proof that Vasilii physically assaulted his girlfriend..."

I personally think the initial punishment he got is pretty low tier, but it's the long game that i think will hurt him. I cannot see teams risking their image by picking him up in any degree, least not anytime soon.

BeatzBoyFTW5 votes

Did you read the initial report? She claimed he hit her and that it was the first time.

You definitely didn't read the whole article at all...

GuesstheName13213 votes

Even if it wasn't a perma-ban, do you think any team would want him when he comes back? I think his career is over with for pro-play after this.

xJLx MCHammer4 votes

[{quoted}](name=God King Midas,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=P5IEXeBF,comment-id=00010001,timestamp=2017-11-22T04:55:22.889+0000)

Even if it wasn't a perma-ban, do you think any team would want him when he comes back? I think his career is over with for pro-play after this.

Say that to Jensen

Dude was perma banned.

Passionfruit13 votes

dude didnt beat his gf, did he?

King Nashor5 votes

Vasili didnt beat his girlfriend either.... Literally states that... do you read?

HavelDaRock3 votes

Comparing toxicity in game to beating your SO, real classy

Deviltales5 votes

The comment was saying that Vasilli's pro-play career was over, and the guy simply made the fact that Jensen was perma banned and was still able to make it back to the competitive scene. There was no comparison between toxicity and physical violence.

Colinology2 votes

Yea it doesn't really make any sense.

Miror B5 votes

Finally rito does something right for a change. According to a few things I read, apparently the guy is a giant prick both in/out of the game (with a few former teammates suggesting that, at times, he can be rather obnoxious to be around). Considering the length of the ban and the circumstances, this is "Effectively" a perma as I doubt any team will want to pick him up after it and I doubt anybody will want to watch him stream.

MisterWolfe1 votes

It's more than just an "effectively" he's also been permabanned by all the streaming sites in China. So he's completely lost any side income he could make streaming not just League, but ANY game.

Miror B2 votes

On the upside, I'm pretty sure MMA is looking to have woman-beaters participate in those things. If they let greg hardy compete then I'm pretty sure they'll allow any of them.

NickyIsAwesome2 votes

There are so many typos...

HidingInYoBushes2 votes

Reallyy feel like you missed the mark this time riot. By putting a number of months you quantify the severity of the act. So then if someone gets a 25 month suspension we can all say he should have just threatened to kill and harm his girlfriend and terrorize her instead right? It gets morally tricky fast. Something like this deserves an indefinite suspension. I'm not opposed to letting someone come back eventually from most things but they need to EARN their right to play again. All this tells him is to just stream for a few years and then boom, start playing again...

Tsarius3 votes

Personally, I think they did fine. They both bent the current rules (by doubling the maximum sentence) and changed the maximum possible sentence to "indefinite". Also, as others have said, these are basically his golden age that's getting stripped away, so there's a really good chance that this may as well be a permanent ban away from pro play.

ChompyWulf2 votes

I hope he at least learns from this experience, gets some therapy and help with developing healthier coping skills.

As for people saying he should be indefinitely banned and etc...sometimes the best thing for people to be inspired to change their own poor behavior is seeing someone suffer a penalty, change, and come back to reach their former achievements, possibly also surpassing them. I don't know much about the guy or care about his career either way, but the toxic community could benefit from more and more high profile behavior redemption stories.

Iiger1 votes

So..... how can he only get banned for 20 months for verbally assaulting someone, but i get perma banned for getting a little drunk and back talking for a couple of games...?

hshtagniemehrcdu6 votes

{quoted}

So..... how can he only get banned for 20 months for verbally assaulting someone, but i get perma banned for getting a little drunk and back talking for a couple of games...?

Basically you didn't understand what this punishment was about at alll. Vasili is a pro player. The 20 minths ban makes it impossible for him to pursue his current profession, the thing he earns his money with.

Tell me again how you receive that sort of punishment from Riot for stuff that doesn't happen in the game? You dont. This is an **additional **punishment, something you will never see unless you become a progamer.

and back talking

wrong, flaming.

xJLx MCHammer1 votes

{quoted}

Basically you didn't understand what this punishment was about at alll. Vasili is a pro player. The 20 minths ban makes it impossible for him to pursue his current profession, the thing he earns his money with.

Tell me again how you receive that sort of punishment from Riot for stuff that doesn't happen in the game? You dont. This is an **additional **punishment, something you will never see unless you become a progamer.

wrong, flaming.

Wait so because he is a pro player, he should get special treatment?

It’s not like this game has a lot of kids who may see that it’s not so bad... He should be held at a higher standard since he is a pro player.

hshtagniemehrcdu3 votes

[{quoted}](name=xJLx MCHammer,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=P5IEXeBF,comment-id=000600000000,timestamp=2017-11-22T15:57:36.420+0000)

Wait so because he is a pro player, he should get special treatment?

It’s not like this game has a lot of kids who may see that it’s not so bad... He should be held at a higher standard since he is a pro player.

...Which is why he receives more of a punishment then a non-pro player. You could do the same thing without consequences (from Riot).

If he gets punished for something an ordinary player isn't, how can you imply that he gets beneficial special treatment wtf.

This punishment effectivly ended his carreer...

Lame One2 votes

Ignoring that there was probably a lot more to the story than just "back talking", you got told you can't play your video game anymore, which realistically you can avoid by just making a new account. This guy got his career taken from him. Given what we're seeing of incomes this year, this guy could have potentially set himself up for the rest of his life in a few years of smart pro play, then a few more as a coach/etc. I'm having trouble understanding how you think you got the short end of the stick here.

ModPrandine1 votes

So wait, I'm confused, if the maximum punishment for extreme misconduct been changed from 10 months to indefinite then can someone please explain to me why did Vasilli only get a 20 month suspension instead of an indefinite one? I'm genuinely curious and wondering about this.

Lame One1 votes

Probably because they were only threats. There was no actual physical violence in the end, according to the investigation, so the penalty is because of threats of domestic abuse, not literal wife beating.

ModPrandine

[{quoted}](name=Lame One,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=P5IEXeBF,comment-id=00070000,timestamp=2017-11-22T20:04:22.092+0000)

Probably because they were only threats. There was no actual physical violence in the end, according to the investigation, so the penalty is because of threats of domestic abuse, not literal wife beating.

Oh okay, I guess it makes sense now. Would have been nice of them to clarify that more in the post but regardless thanks. Still though you would think that the threat of this kind would warrant a harsher penalty than this all things considered.

MadCast Red1 votes

I am not sure Riot understands what "actual domestic abuse" is. This is textbook domestic abuse, and the suggestion that it's not abuse if he didn't actually hit her is insulting to victims of domestic abuse everywhere. Really disappointed to see something like this from Riot. I hope this statement is updated soon.

hshtagniemehrcdu3 votes

{quoted}

I am not sure Riot understands what "actual domestic abuse" is. This is textbook domestic abuse, and the suggestion that it's not abuse if he didn't actually hit her is insulting to victims of domestic abuse everywhere. Really disappointed to see something like this from Riot. I hope this statement is updated soon.

I think people should also consider, that Riot isn't the main police force here...

Dreampod2 votes

They don't say that he didn't hit her, merely that they didn't have PROOF that he hit her, given that she recanted her claim and he says that he didn't. The article seems extremely skeptical that he didn't actually physically abuse her but they can't punish merely on their suspicions.

hotarse1 votes

I just love how so many freaking people are getting off on judging this guy for something they very well have probably done before, or will do, in their lives. People get angry and sometimes that is manifested verbally and through violent gestures. Of course the all holy riot and their holiness can sit on their holy chairs and condemn this behavior and make their jugements and all you idiots will applaud them without thinking twice about your hypocrisy.

US NA LCS Pigeon2 votes

Let me fix what you really wanted to say.

I just love how so many freaking people are getting off on judging Harvey Weinstein for something all men have probably done before, or will do, in their lives. Guys get horny and sometimes that is manifested verbally and through violent and sexual gestures. Of course the all holy riot and their holiness can sit on their holy chairs and condemn this behavior and make their jugements and all you idiots will applaud them without thinking twice about your hypocrisy. (hotarse - about 22 hours ago)

Does your logic work now?

hotarse1 votes

{quoted}

Let me fix what you really wanted to say.

Does your logic work now?

Comparing anger to sexual assault doesn't quite make sense to me. But to some degree, yes I think people are getting off on getting angry about what Harvey's done, though I don't condone his or Vasilli's behavior I also do not condone the self righteous hypocritical behavior of the many.

TheGoomyGamer1 votes

I think the reason Vasilli's behaviour was incredibly bad because he didn't just get mad, he threatened to beat and kill her while throwing around and smashing furniture.

hotarse1 votes

{quoted}

I think the reason Vasilli's behaviour was incredibly bad because he didn't just get mad, he threatened to beat and kill her while throwing around and smashing furniture.

Good for you. I think Vasilli's verbal abuse is not a great look and is regrettable, but at the same time I highly doubt that you've never had a fit of rage in which you've said something or done something regrettable. So for you to sit there in judgement and applaud Riot's self righteous attitude towards not just Vasilli but also against other individuals such as Chris Badawi and Monte Cristo, makes you a Hypocrite in my book and for me that's worse than what Vasilli did.

Shadow Nex1 votes

I love how Riot is acting like the police here. They think they can get into people's personal lives, and ban them for something unrelated to League of Legends. The fuck.

narucabra2 votes

I can't speak for certain as I haven't got a chance to examine the player contracts but I would feel safe assuming there is a moral turpitude clause tucked away in there to protect both the team and the league (riot) from players' out of game activities that could reflect poorly on the other parties. Think back to when Donald Sterling got a lifetime ban from the NBA for racist remarks made in private (talking shit to his girlfriend as appose to addressing his players directly as [ token racist term] ) .

Shadowpants182 votes

If a football player physically abuses someone, they get punished and suspended from the nfl... There isn’t much of a difference

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