During an ESL Pro League Season 22 match between the French organization Gentle Mates and The MongolZ, an incident occurred that sparked major controversy within the Counter-Strike community. Spanish AWPer Sebastián “MartinezSa” Martínez found himself at the center of a scandal after shouting a phrase during the live broadcast that many viewers perceived as racist.
How the Controversy Started
The incident took place near the end of a tense game — with the score at 19:18 on Mirage. After winning a crucial round, MartinezSa stood up and shouted emotionally toward his opponents from The MongolZ:
Don’t jump, Jackie Chan, or I’ll punish you!
The line quickly spread across social media and was widely regarded as offensive, as in the context of a match against an Asian team, it came off as a racial stereotype. Following a wave of backlash on Twitter/X, Reddit, and Telegram, the Spanish player posted a public apology, while Gentle Mates issued an official statement in French.
MartinezSa’s Statement
I want to sincerely apologize for the words I said during our recent match against The Mongolz.
What I said was completely inappropriate, and I now understand how disrespectful and hurtful it can be.
Coming from a different culture, I haven’t always had the right awareness or…— Martinez (@MartiinezSa) October 7, 2025
The post gained over 780,000 views in less than 24 hours, becoming one of the most discussed topics in the esports scene on X.
Gentle Mates’ Response
The Gentle Mates organization also released an official statement, calling the player’s comment “unacceptable and incompatible with the club’s values”:
Communiqué officiel https://t.co/zZivHbiTP5 pic.twitter.com/JS0JY1ILob
— Gentle Mates (@gentlemates) October 7, 2025
The organization added that Martinez had recognized the gravity of the situation and agreed to accept any punishment decided by the management team. However, the specific sanctions have not yet been disclosed.
Reaction from The MongolZ and the Community
He said “Jackie Chan” and I said “G”
I think it’s bromance. pic.twitter.com/Z0IiSGQO7w
— The MongolZ (@1mongolz) October 7, 2025
The response from The MongolZ was calm and measured. The team’s official account on X replied directly to Martinez’s apology with a short message:
No offense taken.
Among fans, opinions were split. Some praised Martinez for his quick reaction and sincere apology, while others demanded more transparency from the club regarding possible sanctions:
- “After such a press release, we’d like to know exactly what punishment he’ll get.”
- “It would be good if Gentle Mates donated the fine to an anti-racism organization.”
- “This is Counter-Strike, not Wokelolant — sometimes people are just emotional, no need to exaggerate.”
Context and Consequences
The incident occurred during one of the most critical matches for Gentle Mates this season, as the team was fighting for a spot in Stage 2 of ESL Pro League. MartinezSa — who had recently regained his form after a shaky start to the year — was one of the team’s key players. For the organization, this was the second public controversy in just a week: earlier, Gentle Mates had been criticized for a satirical post on social media related to another racism scandal in esports. So far, the club has not confirmed whether the situation will affect Martinez’s participation in upcoming matches, but French insiders suggest he may be temporarily suspended from team activities.
Summary
The MartinezSa incident serves as another reminder of how thin the line can be between in-game emotions and unacceptable language. Even though The MongolZ stated they were not personally offended, the player’s apology and the organization’s public response highlight a broader reality — that ethics and communication culture are becoming increasingly important in modern esports.
