Only weeks ago, Riot suspended Khan for what some viewed as racist comments. Before that, Vasiili was suspended for domestic violence. Now, Likkrit, of the Russian team M19, has been suspended for six months for speaking out against Riot. In violation of his contract, Likkrit railed against Riot’s policies with teams and players, blaming much of the financing and profitability issues of teams on the parent company. Riot’s ban on Likkrit, which is one of the largest it has ever handed down, will never be seen to completion though, as immediately following the announcement, Likkrit ragequit from the professional scene.

Outside of Russia, Likkrit was a relative unknown, but in circles that knew him, he had a lopsided reputation. He was said to often be a rallying voice on his team, but there were times where his disrespect for others bled through. In a July game against ROX, Likkrit refused to shake any of his opponents’ hands following a loss. While he apologized later for the incident, it still felt symptomatic of a larger disrespect for the community.

This was in addition to his sometimes toxic behavior on his personal stream. Many Russian viewers have noted his toxic behavior in solo Q, with him flaming teammates and enemies alike. Despite all of this, current discussions of the suspension are largely in Likkrit’s favor, with most fans of the game blaming Riot and a corrupt system that does not allow for player unionization. The reality of the situation, though, probably lies somewhere between.

As a company, Riot has a brand to protect. Their recent suspensions of players, including Vasiili and Khan, are on track for what Riot has said will be revised contracts that will much more harshly punish negative player behaviors. This makes sense if League is compared to traditional sports. It’s not often that LeBron James, for instance, spends several hours every week playing basketball with strangers while talking to fans. If he did, the NBA would have a lot of interest in what was being said. Disparaging Riot, which may seem like a free speech issue for fans, is the same as an employee of a company going to the media and saying how much they dislike their boss.

It should also be said that while Riot handed down a six month suspension, it was Likkrit’s decision to retire. His departure is also probably for greener pastures, as almost immediately following his retirement from League, it was revealed that he would be employed at Facebook handling gaming elements. Still, it continues to mar the image of the company. In addition to Riot’s recent enfranchisement of the NA LCS, the game has become much more corporate in appearance, and Likkrit’s departure only further pushes that narrative.