Saudi’s Esports World Cup rips out CoD’s trash-talk heartbeat
Rightly or wrongly, trash-talking is ingrained in the DNA of Call of Duty. There's a line where trash-talking should stop, which is often crossed and gives CoD its unsavoury reputation.
But when done correctly, trash-talk is the beating heart of competitive Call of Duty. It's been highlighted at this year's CDL World Championships, where year-long drama detonated into one of the most fiercely competed events of all time.
Heading into the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, though, the Call of Duty players have been forcefully muted and will not be allowed to do trash-talk of any kind.
Esports World Cup bans Call of Duty trash talk
The Call of Duty League has seen quite the increase in banterous trash talk on-stage during the 2024 season, with many thanks to Thomas "Scrappy" Ernst, who has become the king of the flying birds and the middle fingers being donned on the broadcast.
But this will not be allowed in the EWC, as the rulebook states, "Participants shall not use obscene or offensive gestures or profanity in their tags, player handles, Team branding, game chat, live play communications, lobby chat, shoulder content, interviews, or other public-facing communications of any kind."
This applies to English and all other languages spoken - Scrappy himself has previously learned Spanish and French simply to trash-talk against his European counterparts.
"Participants are required to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner in their interactions with other Participants, Teams, members of the Administration, the media, sponsors and fans," the rulebook continues.
"Participants are expected to settle their differences in a respectful manner and without resort to violence, threats, or intimidation." Fans seem less than impressed, with one critic writing, "This is a little corny tbh." Another asked, "Organisers never been in a COD lobby?" and a third concluded, "Scrappy getting arrested day 1 gg."
For the most-part, the CDL alumni will likely be able to keep a lid on emotions, but should the likes of Toronto Ultra and Atlanta FaZe meet, the fireworks usually supernova.
