FUT head coach Vlad receives one-match ban, misses Team Liquid match

FUT Esports head coach Berke "Vlad" Kantürk has received a one-match ban and will miss the team's first match of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs against Team Liquid on August 20. While Riot Games has not confirmed the reason for the suspension, it is believed to be related to a series of offensive comments made during a ranked match.

FUT Vlad suspended

The official announcement was released by FUT Esports on August 20, just a few hours before the match against Team Liquid. As a result of the one-match suspension, head coach Vlad will not be leading the team from the coaching booth.

Even with a loss, FUT will not be eliminated from the tournament, meaning Vlad is expected to return for their next match. As the assistant coach, Tyler "Bambino" Jay will guide the team in their series against Team Liquid.

What happened to FUT Vlad?

At the time of writing, Riot Games has not specified the reason behind the suspension. However, the Turkish coach has faced criticism on social media over a series of comments made during a ranked match.

These comments were shared on August 2, raising questions about their connection to the suspension, particularly given that more than two weeks had passed between the comments and the suspension.

The discussion has sparked some turmoil online, with many Turkish fans accusing Riot Games of treating them differently.

You can find translations of the comments in the original post.

VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 2 Playoffs Kick Off

The VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 2 Playoffs will run from August 20 to August 30. There, the final eight remaining teams will battle for a place at VALORANT Champions 2026, which is set to take place in Shanghai, China.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image by by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games