EA has announced that it has banned FIFA 20 pro Kurt ‘Kurt0411‘ French from all its games and services, with the publisher doing so as a result of the player’s “abusive and threatening” behavior. This follows the company previously preventing him from competing in or attending FIFA 20 competitive events.
EA posted the statement to Twitter, saying that Kurt0411’s messages had “crossed a line of decency into very personal attacks” that breach the company’s Terms of Service. EA also statement that Kurt had “continued to post abusive and threatening messages and videos about EA employees and competitive players on social media,” adding that he had also “encouraged others to do the same.”
An Important message regarding FIFA player Kurt0411. pic.twitter.com/RcHu1hMCup
— Electronic Arts (@EA) February 24, 2020
Kurt0411 responded to EA’s ban, posting an email he had received from the company to Twitter, also accusing EA of trying to get his personal Twitch and YouTube channels banned:
Incredibly stuff honestly…banning me from their esports events wasn’t enough, trying to get my Twitch and YouTube channels banned wasn’t enough, they now shut down my 10 year plus Fut Founder account. No words pic.twitter.com/EqAVWprTI5
— Kurt (@Kurt0411Fifa) February 24, 2020
Kurt didn’t admit to any wrongdoing on his part, instead insisting that he was being held back as a result of EA prioritizing another FIFA player.
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“End of the day I have never said anything I shouldn’t have,” he tweeted. “This is just deeper than anyone thinks. They didn’t want me competing at events cos they were scared I’d win them, now I’m the 2nd biggest streamer of their game and they’re scared I’ll overtake their golden boy.
“But when everything is said and done we’ll beat them trust me,” he concluded. “They have money but we have numbers. F*** then and everyone on their side.”
Kurt’s fractious relationship with EA is well-documented. In November, he streamed himself spitting on the company’s logo as a result of his displeasure with FIFA 20.
This is the VOD that Kurt got banned for, I am all for freedom of speech but this is disgusting behaviour. How are you going to spit on the logo of a company that you want to be a professional esports athlete for. I know I am going to get stick for this but he deserves the ban. pic.twitter.com/oJmlifBFLU
— DrJarba (@JarbaFifa) November 1, 2019
He also appeared in a ‘diss track’ on YouTube targeting EA titled ‘Little Rats,’ which called out various company employees by name:
