WFX EPL spot transferred to players

ESL announced that the Winterfox Pro League license will be transferred from the organization to its players due to issues between the two parties.

In the official announcement, ESL claims that issues between the Winterfox players and the organization have been brought to their attention "within the last few weeks".

The news on the matter first broke on April 9th, when Slingshot Esports reported that the Winterfox owner allegedly owes players money and has left the team in Australia without visas to return to the US and play out the rest of ESL Pro League.


ex-Winterfox received the license for their ESL Pro League spot

The problems became apparent soon after the initial report, as the Winterfox squad played multiple EPL North America matches from Oceania, on an incredibly high ping.

Today, ESL came out with a ruling stating that Winterfox's license has been removed from the organization on their own request and transferred to the majority of the players.

The full ruling is as follows:

"Winterfox's License has been removed on their own request and transferred to the majority of the players with the restriction to use a majority lineup. The players will continue to play in the League as "Animal Squad" and will be allowed to finish out the season from Australia. However, if the team secures a slot for next season, they will need to return to North America in order to be eligible to further play in the League."

As stated in the ruling, ex-Winterfox will play out the rest of the season from Australia and New Zealand under the name "Animal Squad".

wow yust pure yoy
2017-04-28 00:29
#5
PirTTiss | 
Finland Toprux
Lul
2017-04-28 00:29
Hopeless team
2017-04-28 00:30
#9
 | 
France StickyRice
They will end up the season 13th and relegated after losing to a Premier team anyway.
2017-04-28 00:30
#10
Azylu | 
New Zealand Azylu
ANIMAL SQUAD! LETS GO PUPPERS!
2017-04-28 00:31
There needs to be some kind of union or regulation that monitors the orgs. No matter how "bad" WFX is, this is their career and failure to pay them is pretty horrendous.
2017-04-28 00:32
4 replies
#23
 | 
United States ImCovati
the real problem is players still continue to sign with these shitty orgs. team orbit for example. after seeing 3 rosters get dropped after a month you would think people would stop signing with them. but yet players continue to
2017-04-28 01:02
1 reply
I understand that, but WFX doesn't have much of a career chance back in ANZ. The major orgs are already filled and players are contracted for several years so they can't join a roster like Athletico or Tainted Minds without someone being unfairly booted. And they need the money, keep in mind they moved to America and WFX was pretty much the only roster that would sign them. If they're in control of the org now, they should relocate it's base to ANZ and try to join the league here before trying the NA league again.
2017-04-28 01:08
not even the first time...wfx had american team
2017-04-28 01:49
1 reply
#47
 | 
United States triggacsgo
yeah obviously this dude that owns WFX is fucking playing with pretend money lol this dude doesnt pay any of his players... don't know what this dude was thinking bringing these players from across the world when he had no money to pay them
2017-04-28 05:00
#12
 | 
Spain Alser
Good PR decision seeing as they were going to get relegated anyways
2017-04-28 00:33
#15
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Belgium owzr
This spot should return to the old WFX squad with xp3 ...
2017-04-28 00:35
continuing to play from AU/NZ doesn't make much sense since the teams that play them get an automatic win basically. (No offense)
2017-04-28 00:35
remember when esl gave the spot to wfx instead of the old xp3 anger etc. roster? lol
2017-04-28 00:36
2 replies
If wfx still wanted the spot they would still get it. ESL doesn't give a shit about players and only cares about orgs, but the org told them to.
2017-04-28 01:15
1 reply
In the end, ESL is still a business and buy-ins are a quick way to make money.
2017-04-28 02:19
#18
rewind | 
Australia Smrfy
Ok like I am happy with this but its pretty fucking garbage that ESL rule in favour of the Australian players but not the American ones...
2017-04-28 00:37
2 replies
"Winterfox's license has been removed from the organization on their own request" ESL doesn't give a shit about players. If winterfox wanted the spot they would most likely get it regardless of fucking over their players, not paying them, or whatever.
2017-04-28 01:17
1 reply
#56
rewind | 
Australia Smrfy
Really makes you feel for the Lex lineup then, WFX felt like hanging onto it then but not this time apparently.
2017-04-28 06:29
After watching a majority of their matches since Raz joined the roster... I still can't figure out if he is either intentionally throwing rounds, or playing on a broken computer monitor, or is just lost 95% of the time. I have no idea where the ROI would come with the cost of housing these fellas in NA. ESL should relegate the bottom four teams in NA and have a gigantic tournament. Time to drain the swamp.
2017-04-28 00:37
1 reply
Well some of the games they have to play from Australia which gives them like 200 ping but other than that on normal games they just fucking suck mate.
2017-04-28 06:18
they will lose their pro league spot anyway
2017-04-28 00:38
#21
 | 
Brazil LukeW_
Thanks, ESL
2017-04-28 00:44
#24
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland AVERAGEPOLISHGUY
Everyone loses in this situation. Theres no way the players will get the spot next season playing from AU.
2017-04-28 01:06
2 replies
If they can win 1 game against foundation who is 1-19 right now they will at least have a chance in relegation.
2017-04-28 02:23
1 reply
haha that name foundation keeps cracking me up, its more like a pit with no foundation at all XD
2017-04-28 12:17
WORST. ORG. EVER.
2017-04-28 01:09
#29
United States BanU
Animal squad lmao
2017-04-28 01:27
2 replies
#30
 | 
Norway Stealthbomber
i think its a cool name :P
2017-04-28 01:37
1 reply
#31
United States BanU
you would KappaPride
2017-04-28 01:39
why would they even keep playing, they went 2/20 playing with low ping... imagine playing from aus. LOL
2017-04-28 04:51
2 replies
They played several matches in AUS mate? or are you baiting
2017-04-28 06:17
1 reply
#58
 | 
Portugal dascouves
They went 2-14 without counting the matches were they played from AUS wich were 6. Wich means they were trash anyway, and should disband and form a better team. The only one on that team with potentional is zewsy the others are dogshit. Please tell zewsy to get better teammates thanks!
2017-04-28 11:09
#46
 | 
World xruptince
If WFX think they have a chance to get back into ESL next season they should head to the bank - get a bank loan & get back to NA to give it a real shot, if they do qualify for the league then it'll pay off with an ORG picking them up. If they don't and get relegated they won't ever get this opportunity ever again.
2017-04-28 04:57
so, free spot on next season, I guess! We smart, we loyal, we friendly, we are from BRAZIL! Kreygasm
2017-04-28 05:13
#49
 | 
New Zealand Keah_Mow
They have SK and ex-Sefless remaining, considering SK is pretty much automatic losses all they need to do is win 1 map against ex-Sefless (who is 1-19 btw) to avoid automatic relegation. I think I read a tweet saying if they get to promotion/relegation matches for ESL S6 they will try and return to NA for that match thus trying to secure there future and spot in NA and ESL. Going back to NA for ESEA Premiere would be a complete waste of time however.
2017-04-28 05:25
second time ESL has given the team of players licence rather than org. ECS learn pls. North won't be in ECS
2017-04-28 05:33
#52
 | 
Germany grabke
North had a chance and lost against fanatic. Pretty sure they are gonna qualify next season against trash dignitas.
2017-04-28 05:41
1 reply
#57
gas | 
Austria Phil_1337
Never heard of fanatic
2017-04-28 07:34
-Zewsy +Mizu to bring back the Animal Squad from Faceit Stage Three Finals 2015
2017-04-28 11:27
Didn't they only play like 6 games from AUS? They were probably going to get relegated anyways....
2017-04-28 13:28
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