When Riot first introduced VCT Game Changers, it was supposed to provide an inclusive space for women and other marginalized genders to showcase their skills. Sadly, the league has been marred by a series of scandals involving men.

For instance, in one instance, a male player pretended to be non-binary to compete in the NA Game Changers tournament. More recently, Rising Hope dropped their Game Changers roster after allegations emerged that the team owner exposed himself to female players during practice sessions.

Now, yet another man has ruined what should have been a celebration of female esports. FENNEL Female, a Japanese team, recently signed on two coaches – Rader and hanpipe – to help guide their players. However, things took a turn for the worse after hanpipe was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.

https://twitter.com/takigare3/status/1637268247006572545

According to Gareso Takizawa, a reporter, hanpipe allegedly engaged in sexual relations with a 16-year-old high schooler at her parent’s house and then attempted to conceal the act. Although there is no concrete evidence to support the allegations, Takizawa claims to have proof to back up the accusations. As a result, hanpipe has been dismissed from her coaching position.

Results of investigation

So, the coach of the Japanese esports team FENNEL has been fired. A while back, Takizawa accused the coach, hanpipe, of doing something wrong. FENNEL said they’d look into it and let everyone know what they found out. Well, they found out that hanpipe did admit to what he was accused of and that someone else knew about it too. FENNEL didn’t know about this until they investigated it. So, they decided they couldn’t keep supporting hanpipe and fired him.

????????hanpipe????????????? pic.twitter.com/NXiaqiHgw7

— FENNEL (@FENNEL_official) March 20, 2023

This all happened after FENNEL’s female team made it to the 2022 VCT Game Changers Championship, and the men’s team won the Japan Challengers Split 1. hanpipe hasn’t said anything since he joined the team.