Riot Games has issued a punishment to former G2 Esports CEO Carlos Rodríguez for publicly associating himself with controversial internet personality Andrew Tate. Rodríguez has been suspended for eight weeks. During this time, Rodríguez cannot hold a managerial or operational position in Riot-sanctioned competitions, or compete in them. The punishment starts retroactively on Sept. 18 and lasts until Nov. 13, with an added condition that Rodríguez must undergo training before potentially returning.

Partying with Andrew Tate

The article states that Riot started an investigation on Sept. 19 to look into Rodríguez’s conduct. The founder and then-CEO of G2 had posted a Tweet on Sept. 17, reading, “yesterday we celebrated G2’s world championship” and was accompanied by a video. In the video, Rodríguez was seen celebrating with a large group of people, among whom former kickboxer Andrew Tate.


“The tweet rapidly garnered attention because of the views expressed by Andrew Tate, which have been described as “extreme misogyny” by the public press,” Riot Games’ post reads. Tate has been at the center of many controversies this year. He has expressed regressive and abusive views toward the place of women in relationships and in society. Most notoriously, Tate called women ‘property’ and said physical violence is warranted against a woman if she accuses a man of committing adultery. Tate is also the subject of an ongoing human trafficking investigation.

After gathering a lot of negative attention to himself and G2 Esports for his initial Tweet, Rodríguez doubled down on Tate being an acquaintance of his. He wrote another Tweet, saying, “Nobody will ever be able to police my friendships. I draw my line here. I party with whoever the fuck I want.”

Reduced punishment

By investigation by Riot Games found that Rodríguez broke Article 9.1.5 of the LEC Rulebook. The rule reads, “Team Managers/Members may not give, make, issue, authorise or endorse any statement or action having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the League, Riot Games or its affiliates, or League of Legends, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the League.”

As CEO, Rodríguez fit the description of Team Manager, Riot states. “By publicly associating on social media Andrew Tate, known for his misogynistic views, with himself, G2 Esports and the LEC, Carlos Rodríguez engaged in an activity which was detrimental to the best interest of the League and Riot Games.  Consequently, Carlos Rodríguez breached Article 9.2.5 of the LEC Rules.”

In their ruling, Riot Games took into account that G2 Esports and Rodríguez themselves had taken punitive measures. G2 initially suspended Rodríguez for eight weeks without pay. A few days later, Rodríguez announced he would part ways with the organization entirely. As such, Riot Games have reduced their punishment, and suspended Rodríguez for eight weeks, retroactively applied to the date of the controversy.

Should Rodríguez want to return to G2 or any other organization tied to Riot-sanctioned competition in any capacity, he’ll need to complete sensitivity training and executive training first, conducted by a third party not associated with G2, Riot, or Rodríguez.

Neither G2 Esports nor Rodríguez have publicly responded to the ruling.