Mineski Events Bans All Involved in Match-Fixing Scandal
In a statement released today by the Mineski Events Team (MET), the eight players that confessed involvement in the recent string of match-fixing scandals in the country have been banned from the Mineski Pro Gaming League (MPGL). The organizing body released the results of their investigation and their judgement, made in part with other gaming organizations namely: TheNet.com (TNC), Philippine eSports Organization (PeSO), Pacific eSports, ESL Philippines and the head organizer of ESGS in a meeting held last Oct. 28, 2014.
Players Joven “jvn” Pancho, Richard “Paseo” Minowa, Jo “Jotan” Tan, Carlo “Chin” Rivera, Mark “Byb” Gavin, Denver “yNd” Miranda and Patrick “JyC” Pascua have been slapped with a one-year ban beginning last Oct. 14, 2014 from all MPGL tournaments.
“Further, while this case is not a criminal proceeding, the investigation of this matter must be akin to one. The maximum penalty to be imposed (lifetime ban) is analogous to the worst of criminal penalties,” the statement read.
In its statement, the organizing body for Mineski’s events said that it chose to penalize the players involved in the match-fixing scandal with one-year suspensions instead of full-on lifetime bans because of extenuating circumstance, including the players’ admission of guilt, their resignation from their respective game clubs and the minority of one of the accused.
“In a professional gamer’s perspective, to be banned from a game they are passionate about is tantamount to the end of their professional life,” the statement further read.
In addition, the MET said that because the illegal matches in question happened in tournaments outside of their control and that no sanctions exist to handle match-fixing issues at the time of the offense, a lifetime ban would be heavy-handed and contrary to the pursuit of justice.
Minority
16 year-old Mark Anthony “Jacko” Soriano was given a nine-month ban, starting at the same time, due to his status as minor.
“As a minor, Jacko Soriano cannot fully discern what is right and wrong and the consequences of his wrongful act,” MET said in the statement. “Discernment means the capacity of the child at the time of the commission of the offense to understand the differences between right and wrong and the consequences of the wrongful act.”
Radores and Vallejos
Jonathan Radores and Michael Vallejos, long regarded at the onset of the match-fixing scandal as the masterminds behind the illegal rigging of matches, have been identified by the MET as the principal figures behind the organization of and execution of the illegal activities surrounding the eight players.
The MET has decided to impose lifetime bans on both Vallejos and Radores. Further, the MET stated that it will pursue the filing of criminal suits against the two if needed.
“The filing of the criminal complaints shall serve as a strong warning against future violators that the organization will not tolerate any act that will deter the growth of the E-Sports community,” said the MET.
Further, the MET issued a warning against any would-be compatriots of the two masterminds, stating that those who affiliate themselves with the two risk bans from MPGL as well. These sanctions may be brought down upon any future team mates, coaches or management staff the two may work with in the eSports arena in the future.
The penalties range from a six-month ban for the first offense to an 18-month ban on the third offense.
View the full statement here.
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