Team Falcons Academy CS2 roster sparks controversy in Conflict of Interest allegations

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 18/09/2025

The newly announced Team Falcons Academy CS2 roster, “Falcons Force,” has come under fire after a potential conflict of interest. 

After tryouts for 70 players, it has been revealed that four of the five chosen roster members are signed to the agency part-owned by Falcons Academy CS2 coach, Niels Christian ‘NaToSaphiX’ Sillassen.

Potential conflict of interest raised after roster announcement

Initial reports by Freelance Investigative Writer Heine ‘puffin’ Winthereig explained that the Team Falcons Academy CS2 roster reveal may not be as transparent as fans would prefer. 

In fact, despite having a pool of 70 potential roster candidates to choose from, four of the five final roster members are represented by NEEVE.PRO. This is the same agency as the team’s coach, NaToSaphiX. Coincidentally, NaToSaphiX is also a part-owner of the agency. 

NEEVE.PRO’s four players in the Team Falcons Academy CS2 roster are the following: 

• Benjamin ‘Olaie’ Olaie, the team’s IGL from Denmark
• Vladimir ‘VENO’ Srankovic, the team’s riffler from Serbia
• Andrei ‘grecu’ Grecu, the team’s AWP from Romania 
• Oskar ‘clockzi’ Blæsbjerg, from Denmark

The crux of this conflict of interest arises due to the agency payments. 

Most player agencies take between 5% and 15% of the player’s salary as compensation for their services, according to Winthereig. 

Therefore, given the notoriety of the Team Falcons’ pay packets and rampant Falcons buyout rumours, this could equate to significant cash. 

Winthereig also claims that sources confirmed that Team Falcons General Manager, Jordan Savelli, was aware of the connection between NaToSaphiX and NEEVE.PRO. 

This is important, given that Savelli also confirmed that NaToSaphiX also led the scouting and recruiting process for trials. NaToSaphiX clearly had a significant role in determining which players attended trials and who moved forward in the process.

Widespread community opinion appears to be that part-owning an agency while actively recruiting players from your own agency to your esports team is, at the very least, “not a good look.”  

When were the Falcons Academy CS2 players signed to NEEVE.PRO? 

One crucial detail contributing to the conflict of interest allegations is when the players were signed. 

NEEVE.PRO announced that they signed Olaie on September 14th. VENO was announced to have joined NEEVE.PRO on September 8th. On August 8th, grecu was announced as being represented, and clockzi was confirmed three days earlier on August 5th. 

After the first Falcons Academy player signing of clockzi, NEEVE.PRO founder Gustavo ‘neeve’ Aroso reposted the announcement with a strange comment. He claimed, “this is gigantic for NEEVE.PRO, you may not understand it yet, but you will.”

Of course, this could be brushed off as an expression of excitement for the signing of new Counter-Strike players. 

Nevertheless, it is coincidentally very on-the-nose for how significant the Falcons Academy CS2 roster will be for NEEVE.PRO cash flow. 

The Team Falcons Academy applications opened on July 6th, with trials lasting for approximately two months. Therefore, all four players likely signed with the agency after they began the team trials. 

Given this information and the fact that NaToSaphiX was heavily involved in the selection process, NEEVE.PRO could have known that the players had a higher chance of making it to the roster. 

As Falcons Academy CS2 trial participants begin discussing their experience, it will become clearer as to how impactful this conflict of interest has been. 

Previous Falcons Academy hopeful Richard ‘log1ks’ Bohunsky has already confirmed he will comment on the agency’s influence in the process. 

Esports News UK has contacted NEEVE.PRO for comment and is awaiting response. 

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

All Posts By Hannah Marie ZT