PGL parts ways with Maniac following sexual assault allegations [Updated]

Update (15:40 CEST): BLAST also refused to work with Maniac. 

Tournament operator PGL has announced in a statement to dust2.dk that the company will no longer hire Mathieu "Maniac" Quiquerez for its Counter-Strike 2 tournaments.

PGL representatives declined to disclose the reasons for the decision, but it was made amid sexual assault allegations against Maniac, with two women claiming that he harassed them, made advances, and generally behaved inappropriately at a party after the tournament. According to HLTV.org, the incident took place at BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024.

Quiquerez himself has not admitted being guilty, claiming that the flirting was mutual. Mathieu added that he may have misread the situation to some extent, but emphasised that there was no sexual assault on his part.

Despite all this, the analyst removed himself from the broadcast of ESL Pro League Season 20 in order not "to distract the audience from the Counter-Strike". In response to a media request, ESL representatives stated that they would conduct their own investigation into the situation, after which they would decide whether the Swiss would work at subsequent events under the auspices of ESL.

Origin: www.dust2.dk