Esports teams establish umbrella organization with ESL
A number of esports teams joined forces with the Electronic Sports League, or ESL, on Friday to form an umbrella organization called the World Esports Association. Just like a traditional sports organization such as FIFA, this must ensure that the sport develops further.
A number of well-known teams have contributed to the establishment of the WESA, as the organization is also known. These include Fnatic, NaVi, Gamers2, and VirtusPro, who are represented in Counter-Strike:GO and League of Legends, among others. The purpose of the WESA is to introduce standard rules, ensure player representation, and share proceeds among the teams. In addition, the organization is committed to drawing up predictable play programs and triggering a discussion among all stakeholders.
Such an umbrella body is important as players often stand alone when they come into conflict with their team or transfer to another organisation, ESL CEO Ralf Reichert told the BBC. The negotiations, which led to the establishment of the WESA, lasted a year. Counter-Strike:GO tournaments are planned to be played first under the organization’s new rules that have so far been held in the ESL Pro League. The final of the CS:GO Pro League will take place in London over the next two days.
The organization wants to give esports players more say by creating a so-called ‘Player Council’. The members of this Player Council are elected by the players themselves and represent them in matters such as policies, rules and transfers. It will be announced in the coming weeks which players will be part of this council. The ESL adds in its own message that WESA teams will also play in other competitions, the schedule of which has been coordinated in advance.
The creation of the organization has been met with some criticism in the various gaming communities, for example, many denounce the fact that the organization is not transparent and independent enough. This would be partly due to the fact that two of the four board members are ESL employees.
The WESA commissioner is lawyer Pietro Fringuelli, who deals with media and sports.