EWC 2025 Criticized by UK Media Over Censorship

The Esports World Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia has drawn attention not only for its high-level esports battles but also for controversy surrounding the event’s organization. British outlet Esports News UK published a report in which superfans described instances of censorship, restrictions from organizers, and preferential treatment toward certain spectators.

Censorship of banners and signs

One of the most notable incidents involved a fan holding a sign reading “MONGOATS MZINHO KING.” It was said to be banned because the word "king" is not suitable for Saudi Arabia's political system, in which Crown Prince has ruled since 2017. But some witnesses said that they could see lots of banners and flags in favor of different teams within the stadium, with no large-scale censorship in view.

Control over chants

MOUZ fans claimed they were forbidden from chanting the amount Falcons paid for their roster, as well as the phrase “Chopper was right,” which implied paid supporters.Even Lenya himself was asked to remove a circle with a joke directed at Falcons fans. Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere remained lively: the crowd actively cheered for their teams, creating an intense “side versus side” rivalry in the stands.

Privileges for Falcons fans

The Falcons’ fan section also drew criticism. Entry was restricted only to their supporters, while journalists with badges were directed away by security. Still, many noted that Falcons fans themselves were friendly and even engaged in casual conversations with others about CS and popular players.

Schedule changes and organizational issues

Organizers did reshuffle matches in the opening days to move Falcons’ game into a more favorable slot. This decision angered NAVI fans, who had attended only to witness their team destroyed. The most controversy, however, was the third-place match between Falcons and Vitality being moved to a studio setting, where only the media and a few spectators got to experience the action.

Water issue

Another happened on the last day, when beverages were taken at the entrance, and it was criticized on the social media. After that, reportedly, free water bottles were provided by security personnel to visitors.

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Conclusion

Despite some extremely controversial moments, regulations at EWC 2025 were generally local law and Falcons being the "home" team. Despite that, the event had tens of thousands of viewers and was one of the most talked-about esports tournaments of the year.