On September 15, the Falcons organization officially announced the roster of their academy team, Falcons Force, after months of tryouts. What was meant to be a new step for developing the youth scene and a chance for fresh talent quickly turned into a scandal: immediately after the announcement, journalist puffin reported that the project was a “classic example of conflict of interest.”
The Core of the Conflict
Sources: Falcons Force Is A Classic Case Of Conflict Of Interest
Falcons Force has had mixed reactions with the announcement of the team on Sep 15th. However there is a glaring conflict of interest in the center of the project.
— puffin (@puffin_27) September 17, 2025
The controversy stems from the fact that 3 out of 5 players in the Falcons Force starting roster are represented by NEEVE.PRO, an agency co-owned by the academy coach, Marco “NaToSaphiX” Pedersen. He was also the one responsible for making the final player selections.
The situation appears complicated. On one hand, the team’s coach directly influences who earns a spot in the roster. On the other, he co-owns an agency that collects 5–15% of player salaries. This means every signed contract brings NaToSaphiX not only coaching income but also agency bonuses. According to sources, Falcons Esports’ sports manager, Jordan Savelli, was aware of and approved this arrangement, which only fueled further criticism in the community.
Media and Social Media Reaction
The story was first broken by journalist puffin, who published it on Twitter and Substack. His post gathered over 148,000 views and sparked a storm of discussion. Some community members believe this is an obvious conflict of interest, arguing that the coach is essentially promoting his own clients.
Others point out that NaToSaphiX has long been open about his ties to NEEVE.PRO, and that this should not be treated as a “sensational exposé.” Some even claim puffin’s publication was an attempt to discredit Falcons and the agency without proper context.
Well-known commentators also weighed in:
- Joe (@josephmarmalade) asked how many players in the initial tryout pool were from NEEVE.PRO: “If it was 60 out of 70 candidates, that’s one thing, but if it was only 5, then the situation is much less significant.”
- Zuri (@4zurii) remarked: “I love trolling Falcons, but this isn’t a real problem.”
- Slamon (@bluestr1pe) stressed that NaToSaphiX has always been transparent about his business ties and that there’s nothing “shocking” here.
Arguments in Defense
Members of management also joined the debate. User ManagerMarkus criticized puffin’s article, claiming it was “full of empty accusations without context.” According to him, if the journalist had researched the issue more thoroughly, he would have seen that not all players are directly tied to the agency and that the story was being presented far too one-sidedly.
Potential Consequences
The scandal surrounding Falcons Force raises an important issue for the entire esports industry: can coaches or managers simultaneously run businesses in agencies that represent their players? On one hand, this creates risks for fairness in selection and opens the door to accusations of manipulation. On the other, such overlaps are not rare in esports, as many coaches and players are also involved in business ventures.
For Falcons, this matter could become not just a reputational blow but also a challenge in dealings with tournament organizers and sponsors. If the conflict of interest is deemed critical, the organization risks facing additional pressure from both the community and partners.
Conclusion
Falcons intended to present their academy as a symbol of nurturing young talent, but instead they found themselves caught in a storm of scandal. Despite statements in defense of NaToSaphiX, accusations of conflict of interest are likely to haunt Falcons Force for some time.
The key question now: can the organization prove the transparency of its decisions — or will this controversy remain a dark stain on the reputation of their new project?
