The BLAST Open Lisbon 2025 tournament is currently underway, bringing together some of the best Counter-Strike teams in the world. The competition kicked off in Denmark, at the BLAST studios, before heading to Portugal for the highly anticipated Playoffs.
While the tournament has delivered intense matchups and thrilling moments, a controversy has emerged, sparking debate within the esports community. At the center of this issue is a clip shared by BLAST during an official broadcast and later on social media.
Falcons’ Complaint Against BLAST
The MENA-based organization, Falcons, has officially expressed discontent with BLAST after the tournament organizers aired a timeout segment from their match against Virtus.Pro. The controversial video clip has since spread across various social media platforms, drawing criticism from players, coaches, and analysts alike.
The Issue with the Clip
- The clip in question captures a crucial timeout moment during the Falcons vs. Virtus.Pro series.
- BLAST edited the footage to remove strategic discussions, following standard broadcasting protocols.
- Falcons argue that the cut-down version of the clip was misleading and led to unfair perceptions about their coach and players.
“We have submitted an official complaint to @BLASTPremier regarding this social post (and it being put out during broadcast). It forcibly lacks context by not showing the entire timeout (which they can’t do because there was tactical elements discussed towards the end of it) for the sake of creating a bait tweet and noise and giving a false impression of the coach and players. The response of other CS coaches against the tweet says it all.”
Grant Rousseau, Global Director of Esports Falcons
What Happens in the Video?
- The video shows Falcons’ coach, Zonic, delivering a tactical talk.
- At one point, Zonic pauses, prompting Degster to ask, “What?”
- The team remains silent before Niko steps in, asking if Zonic has an idea or if he should take over.
The way this interaction was presented has caused backlash, with many claiming that BLAST should not have released the clip, as it could misrepresent the team’s dynamics.
Community Reactions and Backlash
Several coaches and community members have voiced their concerns:
- Criticism from Coaches: Many professional coaches believe that timeout footage should not be used in public broadcasts, especially if strategic discussions are omitted, as it could paint an inaccurate picture of team communications.
- Community Concerns: Fans and analysts have questioned whether BLAST’s decision was meant to create controversy for engagement or if it was an oversight.
BLAST’s Silence and Falcons’ Elimination
As of now, BLAST has not issued an official response regarding the controversy. Meanwhile, Falcons have been eliminated from the tournament after losing 2-1 to Virtus.Pro.
The BLAST Open Lisbon 2025 controversy raises important discussions about content responsibility in esports. Will BLAST change its approach to broadcasting team communications, or will this be the new norm in tournament coverage?