In a shocking turn of events, Swiss VALORANT player Blendi “KovaQ” Kovaci managed to ruin his professional career in record time. His contract with FunPlus Phoenix was swiftly terminated after he sent an in-game message to a teammate containing anti-Asian racial slurs.
Joining a prestigious Chinese organization like FPX is a dream opportunity in VCT CN, offering a massive platform, top-notch facilities, and a devoted fan base. However, KovaQ’s reckless actions in sending derogatory messages have left the community in disbelief.
The Fastest Speedrun to a Contract Termination
The series of events unfolded rapidly. During a game interaction captured on a teammate’s broadcast stream, KovaQ made a grave error by using a racial slur aimed at Chinese individuals in a private message.
FPX wasted no time in response. They promptly suspended him from training, halted his match participation, stopped his salary, and initiated an investigation. Within hours, FPX officially announced on Weibo that they were cutting all ties with KovaQ and terminating his contract immediately.
In response to his dismissal, KovaQ took to X to issue a formal apology statement:
“Hello everyone, I wanted to apologize for what I wrote. I sent something to my teammate that was inappropriate towards a lot of people. In that moment I meant it as a joke, but looking back at it, I deeply regret ever writing it.
I understand why people are angry and I know that what I said was wrong. There’s really no excuse for it and I take full responsibility for what I wrote.
I’m sorry to everyone I hurt or offended, and I also want to apologize to my teammates, the organization, and everyone around me who was affected by this.
I made a mistake that I shouldn’t have made, and I take full responsibility for it. Thanks to FPX for the opportunity to be part of this project and for everything you’ve done for me.
I’ll be taking some time away from social media to reflect and reset. Please don’t send any hate or anger toward my teammates or FPX. They don’t deserve any of it. If you feel like you need to direct that frustration at someone, direct it at me instead.”
Claiming that his actions were meant as a joke holds little weight in the face of insulting the very culture, organization, and fans supporting him financially.
The response from VLR.gg and Reddit has been a mix of astonishment and revulsion. Fans are struggling to comprehend how an import player residing and competing in China could display such blatant disrespect towards those around him.
The general sentiment within the community is clear:
- Disrespecting the host nation: “To mock Chinese individuals while playing for a Chinese team… this guy has hit a new low.”
- Perplexed by his career choice: “What a complete fool, VCTCN gave you a platform and an opportunity to continue competing, and this is how you repay FPX and VCTCN?”
- Squandering the chance: “It’s hard to imagine him receiving the same level of support and popularity elsewhere as he did in China. Yet, he fails to appreciate it, resorting to racist remarks towards his own teammates.”
- Showing utter thoughtlessness: “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you… He was disrespectful towards the very people who employed him.”
The End of the Line for VCT CN Imports?
Chinese esports organizations have always maintained a strict policy against behavioral misconduct, and FPX drew a clear line in this incident. For KovaQ, this misstep effectively closes the door on his VCT CN career and tarnishes his professional reputation on a global scale.
As FPX seeks a new in-game leader to fill the gap in their roster for upcoming matches, the rest of the professional scene receives a costly reminder: show respect to the region you represent, maintain clean communication, and refrain from using derogatory language.