Andy Dinh of esports’ Team Solo-Mid has been fined and put on probation for bullying players and staff

Andy Dinh, an American entrepreneur and CEO, has been hit with a massive fine and put on probation for bullying players and staff.

After a lengthy investigation, the League of Legends LCS – the North American professional league owned and operated by developers Riot – has punished one of the premier team leaders.

Andy Dinh, also known by the handle Reginald, is on a two-year probation and has been fined $US75,000 ($111,107) for “a pattern and practice of disparaging and bullying behaviour” towards members of his team, TSM.

The team will also have an “independent monitor” assigned to check on the wellbeing of TSM (Team Solo-Mid) League of Legends players.

It’s the culmination of an investigation that began in November 2021 after a player made public accusations against Dinh for his behaviour.

Andy Dinh was hit with a big fine and is on a two-year probation.

He was fined for ‘disparaging and bullying behaviour’. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Ketchum

The investigation found that Dinh was essentially guilty of verbally abusing players and staff for perceived poor performance.

There were no findings of physical abuse, threatened or actual, nor anything that amounted to racism, sexism, transphobia or anything else targeting a “protected class”.

In the official ruling, the LCS also notes that TSM’s own investigation came to slightly different conclusions.

While those two investigations were happening in tandem, they did not share resources or results with one-another outside of some efficiency of interviewing subjects, and the LCS maintains that they are separate investigations.

In addition to the $US75,000 fine, which will be donated to an anti-bullying charity chosen by the league and players, Dinh will go through executive and sensitivity training.

For two years he is also considered on probation, meaning any further infractions will carry very harsh penalties.

Finally, the creation of a “tip line” for TSM employees has been mandated. This will allow for the anonymous reporting of abusive behaviour from Dinh and will exist alongside regular, official check-ups with players in TSM.

TSM is one of the oldest and most profitable esports organisations, originating with League of Legends in 2009 but now having players across fighting games, various shooters, and nearly a dozen other games. It has a massive fanbase and is also, seemingly, fairly profitable – rarer than you might think for an esports team.

It is the first ruling of its type for the LCS, and it is somewhat unlikely that Dinh is the only team leader or CEO within the league that is guilty of going too hard on players.

Similar revelations rocked the Dota 2 scene, a competitor to League of Legends in the MOBA genre, in 2016.

— written by GLHF