The well-known coach of FlyQuest LCS, identified as Richard Su, now faces a scandalous accusation and an investigation. This situation arose following a detailed elucidation from Sheep Esports which claimed that Richard was implicated in inappropriate interactions with minors under a different alias.
This report by Sheep Esports points towards misconduct by Richard, allegation which was taken seriously by Sander ‘LCS Eevee’ Hove. Notably, it was Hove who reached out to the FlyQuest management before publishing the report about this illicit behavior. According to the revelation, Richard Su adopted the disguise of a young 13-14 year old boy to engage flirtatiously with minors, as a result of which he has been placed on administrative leave by FlyQuest organization.
FlyQuest management acted swiftly upon this concerning information. They made a clear move, deciding to suspend the coach and place him on “administrative leave” while the investigation is ongoing. Timely and appropriate action was taken by the organization, reflecting their commitment to maintaining the integrity and fairness of the sports community.
FlyQuest addressed the situation publically with a statement saying, “Earlier today, FlyQuest was notified about allegations surrounding a member of our League of Legends coaching staff.” They elaborated by adding that, “These accusations surround behavior before the individual became a member of the FlyQuest coaching staff, but we take such accusations very seriously.”
Even though Richard's alleged behavior occurred before he joined FlyQuest, it was not going unnoticed. One of the insiders communicated with Sheep Esports, claiming that Richard enacted as a young German boy aged around 13 or 14 and flirted with a 17 year old when he was himself 24/25. This incident allegedly took place in 2020.
Richard Su has been functioning as a coach in NA since late 2019 and associated with FlyQuest since late 2020. His alleged behavior has brought an enormous amount of unwanted attention to the organization and the community as a whole. It has raised several questions about screening methods for the staff involved in Esports, and concerns about how to safeguard minors in the sports community.
The shocking aspect of this episode is that Richard's behavior was allegedly known when he was a professional player in Australia. The report presented by Sheep Esports stated that Richard was infamous for such inappropriate behavior. This revelation comes as a shock to the Esports community.
This situation brings a significant spotlight on the sport's regulatory bodies and their actions towards these kind of misconduct allegations. It is necessary that such claims are taken seriously and not neglected, regardless of the individual’s popularity or influence in the community.
This investigation will have considerable implications for the sports fraternity. Failure to take appropriate actions could harm the credibility of the organization and community's integrity. Furthermore, protecting the minors in the community should be of utmost importance, which seems to be a significant issue coming in the limelight with this case.
The speedy response and immediate placement of Richard on administrative leave signify the organization's stance towards such actions. This swift move shows that they prioritize the safety of its community members over personal reputation or any associated financial gains, thereby setting an example for other organizations in the sports community.
However, there is also a need to revise the current policies and procedures related to safety and conduct in the sports community. The incident points to certain loopholes or gaps in the security and screening process. The necessity of having a safe environment extends to staff members and to all the individuals involved in the sport.
Thus, this incident could be seen as a bitter but necessary wake-up call for the sports community. Adaptation and continuous updating of regulations based on these learning should be considered a standard procedure. In the future, a better screening process should be adopted to avoid the placement of such individuals in positions where they can exploit others.
Another crucial consideration arising from this incident is the mental and psychological support to the affected individuals. In cases of such misconduct, it is equally important to provide mental health support to the victims along with taking actions against offensive individuals.
Richard is yet to provide a statement or response on these allegations. The situation is under watch by fans and other organizations in the sports community. The ongoing investigations will not only determine Richard's future in FlyQuest and beyond, but also set a precedent for actions in such circumstances in future.
The current happenings disclose that while esports, like other sports, has a wide and diversified audience, it is also vulnerable to similar illicit activities. It highlights that while adopting digitized platforms, internet safety measures, especially for minors, should be considered with utmost priority.
This incident evokes thoughts on how we can make digital spaces safer and more respectful for everyone. A thoroughly defined process of hiring, enhanced safety measures, and stringent rules can help provide a healthier and more secure environment for all participants. It is a collective responsibility of the community and regulatory bodies to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
As they often say, ‘there is no smoke without fire’, thus this incident might be just the tip of the iceberg. By taking firm actions, implementing strong rules, and focusing on creating a respectful environment, hopefully, such incidents become a thing of the past. Until then, we watch and learn to adapt, in the process growing stronger and wiser.