Mentioned in this article
- The World Esports Association (WESA), founded by the ESL in cooperation with several esports teams, will review recent allegations against the management of Ninjas in Pyjamas.
- Sports lawyer and Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC) Commissioner Ian Smith has been mandated to conduct an independent review by the end of August 2019.
- The current Ninjas in Pyjamas management agreed to support the independent review, allowing Smith full access to all relevant documents.
Following the recent allegations put forward by former players, employees, and administration against the management of Ninjas in Pyjamas including current Ninjas in Pyjamas CEO and WESA Executive Board Member Hicham Chahine, WESA announced its intention to review the situation by the end of this month.
The WESA is an association founded by esports competition organizer ESL and several esports teams including Ninjas in Pyjamas. The organization aims to amplify sustainable growth of esports based on the shared values of fairness, transparency, and integrity among all stakeholders.
While multiple former Ninjas in Pyjamas players and staff made allegations, especially former Counter-Strike professional player Robin “fifflaren” Johansson, who played for the team from 2012 to 2014, drove attention to the issue by discussing his allegations in an interview with Richard Lewis and making his discontent known on Twitter.
The WESA has mandated Ian Smith, a sports lawyer and Commissioner of the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), to conduct an independent compliance review by the end of this month. Ninjas in Pyjamas has agreed to support this review, and Smith will receive full access to all relevant documentation. After the conclusion of his review, Smith will share a public statement outlining his findings.
Since being founded by Emil “HeatoN” Christensen and Tommy “Potti” Ingemarsson in 2000, Ninjas in Pyjamas’ ownership and management changed multiple times including bankruptcy of the then owner Stockholm Esports AB in 2014.
The Esports Observer has reached out to Ninjas in Pyjamas for a response and will update this story should more information become available.
