ATF: "SoNNeikO threatened to punch me and put me in the ground. I replied, 'Please, punch me'"
2024-10-07 08:59:00Falcons offlaner Ammar "ATF" Alassaf explained his version of the incident with Akbar "SoNNeikO" Butaev at PGL Wallachia S2. He confirmed the story shared by Gorgc, and added a few more details. According to ATF's words, the offlaner didn't act aggressively in response.
Just to clarify what happened today 3 months ago: I was playing a ranked game against SoNNeikO. During the game, I called him braindead. After the game, he sent me a threatening message on X, which I took as banter. Today, he approached me in the hotel lobby, put his arm on my shoulder, and started threatening to punch me and put me in the ground (xd?), to which I replied, "Please punch me." He just stood there and kept threatening me despite the AVULUS manager, coach, and players trying to get him to stop. Anyways, I guess he did this because he can't beat me in the game.
The conflict happened on October 6. Following the incident, SoNNeikO's AVULUS were penalized with 110 seconds of draft time in the game against Falcons. Many in the community considered the measure to be mild. PGL also provided the team with a security guard.
Later that day, ATF's organization released a statement regarding the episode. They were dissatisfied with the ruling, too, and demanded the organizers to "remove SoNNeikO from the event." Otherwise, Team Falcons might withdraw from the tournament. PGL have yet to respond to their statement. AVULUS will play the next game on October 8, while Falcons on October 10.
Funny how ATF is allowed too be toxic online and at events but when it happens too him in real life he cries like a baby... and just to be clear none of these behaviors are acceptable