BLEED loses Counter-Strike roster following pending payment allegations

The BLEED Counter-Strike roster has cut ties with the organization following non-payment of dues for several months. This announcement follows shortly after the organization was removed from VCT following discrepancies in their reports to Riot Games. After the controversy surrounding their VALORANT squad, the organization now has seem to have lost its Counter-Strike roster as well.

BLEED’s Counter-Strike roster parts ways with org

After months of attempting to resolve our internal issues privately, we feel compelled to share what has transpired and is still ongoing. BLEED’s upper management team has consistently ignored our concerns, leaving us no choice but to go public and cut all ties with them.

From the outset, we’ve grappled with delayed salary (up to four months at the time), buyout, bootcamp, and other payments. For reference, most of the players got their first salary in April even though they signed contracts in December.

The official letter also dives deep and says the bootcamp was organized by the team’s coach and the players. The players have refused to play officials (often lasting weeks)

Before CQ for RMR bootcamp was organized and paid 50% by Kassad and the other 50% by players. Other organizations have confirmed that they have failed to pay buyouts for several players (still not paid to this day), threatening them with legal actions and going public with the information if they don’t pay, and about 60% of the tournament prize money is still outstanding. Several times during the last 4-5 months the team refused to play officials and practice (weeks at the time) until some of the payments were made.

The players allege that BLEED’s management lied about payments, making empty promises. The players are consulting their legal team to figure out the best way to approach this situation and move things forward.

They’ve repeatedly lied about payments, made empty promises, and kept us hoping things will get better. Most of the time we’ve been completely ignored by management - radio silence on their end. We’re currently consulting with our legal team to determine our next steps and move things forward. We plan to search for a new organization that can offer us stability and meet the essential requirements for effectively managing a team.

BLEED’s departure from the VALORANT Champions Tour was possibly the final straw for the players who were eagerly waiting for their pending dues. With empty promises and non-communication, the players have now decided to take things into their own hands. BLEED’s former Counter-Strike roster will compete in the next two tournaments under the name UNPAID - in a clear jibe at BLEED’s actions.

Jkaem and Co. will compete next in the RES Regional Champions and the Thunderpick World Championship 2024.