How are esports players punished for breaking rules?
A · Advanced · Integrity and sanctions · 6 of 7Penalties include penalty points, each taking 1 per cent of the participant's prize money and sharing it among the others, and fines taken from winnings. More serious breaches bring forfeits, bans or disqualification, which loses all prize money from that competition. Insults, spamming, deceiving officials and missing media duties are punished too.
How it works
- Penalty points: 1 per cent of prize money each, shared with others.
- Fines: taken from winnings, not shared.
- Disqualification: all prize money from that competition lost.
- Bans: for very severe incidents, for players, teams or clubs.
- Other sanctions: losing a map ban, ranking or club points.
- Bad conduct: one to six penalty points for netiquette breaches.
- Deceiving officials: one to ten penalty points.
- Appeals: by the team representative, within the time set.
The glossary has the penalty points, the fines (esports), the disqualification (esports), the forfeit (esports), the club and the tournament administration.
Tricky cases
Is an attempted offence punished?
Yes. Planned or attempted breaches can be sanctioned.
Are repeat offences treated the same?
No. They are usually punished more severely.
Is prize money paid during an investigation?
No. It is held until the investigation ends.
Can a player miss a media interview?
No. Missing media duties brings fines.
Why the rule exists
Prize-money sanctions hit teams where it matters without stopping the event. Sharing deducted money stops anyone profiting from a rival's penalty.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty points | Shared with others | G 6.1 |
| Fines | Not shared | G 6.2 |
| Disqualification | All prize money lost | G 5.1.2.4 |
From the rule book
Esports World Cup Foundation, Esports World Cup 2026 Global Rulebook, sections 5.1.1 to 5.1.4, 5.1.15, 5.1.17, 5.1.19.4 and 6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the Esports World Cup 2026 rule books.