Discrimination issues still plague League of Legends esports in EMEA

Callum Mercer, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 26/03/2026

A report published by Sheep Esports claims that gender-based discrimination remains a persistent and systemic problem within the EMEA League of Legends esports ecosystem.

The piece was prompted by a post on X from pro player Ève ‘Colomblbl’ Monvoisin in late March 2026, in which she alleged she was explicitly rejected from an ERL mixed team in December 2025 because she is a woman.

The report argues this is not an isolated case, but a symptom of entrenched cultural attitudes across the region’s competitive structure.

What the report found

According to the report, Colomblbl’s post on X prompted a wider thread of testimonials from other players who claim to have faced similar barriers.

In one excerpt shared in the piece, a former coach recalled telling management they wanted a female ADC — described as simply the best player available — only to be told the organisation didn’t want a woman on the team because male players might be distracted by flirting.

The report frames this as a pattern of informal veto power rather than overt policy, with discriminatory decisions made quietly at the organisational level and rarely challenged.

It also points to low representation figures — community tracking suggested only around 2-3% of Tier 2 ERL rosters across EMEA in 2025 identified as women or marginalized genders.

Sheep Esports argues that these attitudes explain why dedicated circuits such as the League of Legends Game Changers programme remain necessary, and that claims of preferential treatment for women in esports don’t hold up against the evidence on the ground.

A recurring problem in EMEA esports

This won’t come as a surprise to those who’ve followed the scene closely.

In 2023, French player Kaylanya ‘SenpAICuZ’ Tapia faced team rejections attributed to her gender, a case that generated significant backlash at the time but didn’t produce lasting structural change.

Riot Games launched the LGC circuit in 2024, modelled on Valorant’s Game Changers programme, building on regional grassroots efforts like Germany’s Equal Esports Cup and France’s Coupe des Étoiles.

LGC has since confirmed circuits through 2026 and 2027.

The broader conversation around diversity and opportunity in esports has grown louder, but according to the report, the structural barriers haven’t moved at the same pace.

Player and community reaction

LEC host Laure Valée amplified Colomblbl’s post on X, pushing back against narratives of progress.

Valée stated: “people still claim things have changed, or even that women get more opportunities in esports, but in reality, there is still a long way to go.”

The thread drew dozens of responses from players and figures within the scene sharing their own accounts.

Community outlets have been critical of organisations for what they describe as passive tolerance of discriminatory behaviour, arguing that allowing informal vetoes to stand undermines competitive integrity.

No official response from Riot Games or any ERL organisation had been published at the time of writing.

In November 2024, Riot did introduce a voluntary arbitration mechanism with Martens Rechtsanwälte for EMEA League of Legends and VALORANT professionals, designed to handle disputes around unpaid salaries and transfers — though its published rules remain limited and its scope for discrimination cases is unclear.

What this means for the 2026 ERL season

The 2026 ERL season is already underway, with Winter, Spring, and Summer splits scheduled and top ERL teams feeding into the new LEC Versus Tier 1 event. Whether the renewed attention on discrimination prompts any formal organisational response or league-level enforcement remains to be seen.

LGC’s confirmed expansion through 2027 provides one dedicated pathway, but as the report notes, the main competitive ecosystem has yet to demonstrate that merit alone determines who gets a roster spot.

Callum Mercer, Senior Editor

Callum “Cal” Mercer is a UK-based esports journalist covering competitive titles across the LEC, VCT, and global Counter-Strike circuits. With a background in broadcast production and data analysis, he specialises in tactical breakdowns, roster strategy, and the business dynamics shaping modern professional gaming.

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