KSCERATO: CSGO has an opportunity to change the injustice that they made with guerri

The topic of Nicholas "Guerri" Nogueira's ban has been subject to much discussion of the community since he was first punished by ESIC and Valve in September 2020 after being accused of manipulating the coaching bug during two separate matches. for a total of 26 rounds, earning himself five demerit points. At the time, guerri complied with the investigation and earned a 60% concession and only served a four-month ban.

However, due to the bans, guerri was punished by Valve for up to five Majors due to the five demerits earned. He was lucky considering a sixth demerit would have barred him from ever participating in a Major ever again.

The issue has come up once again as guerri has been seen congratulating the players, being involved behind the scenes, and celebrating in the stands throughout the iconic IEM Rio Major. For FURIA, it is their home event and for guerri, the event is one in a lifetime to be part of. There was hope in August when ESIC agreed to revise their demerit system finding their initial system too punitive following a successful lawsuit by Alessandro "Apoka" Marcucci and guerri.

The two decided to file their appeal with ESIC as the concessions to the time served did not translate to the demerit ban, which Valve ended up using as the basis for disqualification from future Majors. ESIC was unaware of Valve's intention of using the demerit points as the basis for the bans and has internally disagreed with that decision since the RMR update. However, ESIC was unable to act until the appeal presented by Apoka and guerri was brought forth as they did not have justifiable legal standing to alter their first rulings.

Previously, the way ESIC handled all punishments was to calculate the demerit points, apply the corresponding ban, then any applicable concessions would be deducted from the final ban.

ESIC final sanction = ban equivalent for demerit points - (% award x ban equivalent for demerit points)

Under the new ruling after the successful appeal, the new calculation is laid out in this manner;

Final Demerit Points = Initial Demerit Points – (Initial Demerit Points x Total Concession Percentage)

As an example, apoka earned eight demerit points under the system, however he had a 85% concession percentage. His new demerit points would be 1.2, or realistically, 1. For guerri who had earned five demerit points, his final demerit figure under the new calculation methodology would be 2.

The difference in the demerit point calculation is critical for members of the spectator coaching bug as it would allow them to return to their respective teams and participate in Majors once more. The previous demerit point system utilized by Valve at this point extends the punishments of coaches from a measly four months to nearly two and a half years in guerri's case, and from five and a half months to a permanent ban in apoka's.

While ESIC has recognized that by not initially applying the concessions to the demerit point system when it was first issued was an oversight, they did not believe at the time it would be used by Valve as the basis for future Major bans. ESIC's recent ruling was communicated to Valve, who rejected their decision within the last forty-eight hours and will continue to ban coaches from Majors using their initial demerit system. With Valve deciding against ESIC's decision, guerri will be forced to wait until 2024 until he is able to participate in a Major again.

With FURIA advancing to the playoff stage yesterday evening, the emotions of guerri's ban have weighed on the team. This afternoon, Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato took to Twitter to talk about how unjust it all is. Guerri is not allowed backstage to talk to the players.

Now CSGO has an opportunity to change the injustice that they made with guerri looking closely at all the facts that prove him innocent.

The situation is so bizarre that he even can’t join the backstage at the event to talk to the players. Nobody should be treated like this.

He continues on in the following tweet;

guerri dedicated his heart out to the game for more than 15 years, and he has given so much more love than he is receiving from the publisher. I hope now they could answer in a different way. #freeguerri

Former and current players have iterated the same sentiment with former eUnited and Chaos IGL Anthony "vanity" Malaspina has echoed the same sentiment responding to the tweet with "Free Guerri".

guerri will continue to sit on the sidelines, but this time he has other coaching company as Marcos "tacitus" Castilho was removed from the Major coaching role for the IEM Rio Major in favor of André "Akkari" Akkari, the FURIA Co-Owner and close father figure to the team. His inclusion for the Major was to install a more comforting and psychologically helpful voice to the team, rather than a tactician.

FURIA have qualified for the playoffs after securing a 3-0 sweep in the New Legends stage and await to find their final placing and their opponent in the upcoming quarter-finals.