The new LFL team French Flair recently announced the former Team Liquid and Fnatic player Bwipo as its jungler. LFL officials validated their roster soon after. However, they only later realized that he made the team ineligible to play in this league, which now puts both the player and the team in very difficult positions.
One week ago, support Trayton formed the team French Flair, a team of French and Belgian players. The team hired Adam, Bwipo, SAKEN, 3XA, and Targamas. With a roster of a much greater caliber than the average for an EMEA Regional League, French Flair was set to dominate the LFL.
Adam, Bwipo, and Targamas all played at Worlds. The latter two also hold LEC trophies. 3XA and SAKEN are the only two whose hype and potential did not translate to results in the major leagues. Regardless, that team aims for the levels of domination that Los Ratones had in 2025.
However, an ERL rule states that “An ERL Starting Line-up cannot include more than two Veteran Players at a time” (rule 3.1.5).
In this case, a Veteran player is: “A Player who has participated in more than 50% of eligible Matches in a Professional League (LEC, LCS, LPL, LCK etc.) in at least three out of the last five completed Splits.” (ERL Rulebook page 54)
Adam, Bwipo, and Targamas were all LEC or LTA North players for the entirety of the past two years. This put French Flair in violation of that rule. This rule has been in effect across all ERLs, so Trayton should have known it while recruiting his team.
While there is definitely responsibility on the team’s behalf, what’s stranger is the fact the LFL officials validated the team. On December 3rd, the LFL’s Twitter/X account even posted to welcome in French Flair and its line-up.
Seemingly though, the officials validated the team without checking this rule, and they now have to revert that validation. This comes after French Flair has already started practicing and scrimming. The team now has to start over.
Faced with this announcement, French Flair had to remove Bwipo and Targamas and the team did so. Trayton wants his team to be a way for his players to show that they’re LEC ready. With multiple Worlds appearances under his belt, this isn’t something that Bwipo needs.
Bwipo in his last match of Worlds 2025. Image Source: Christian Betancourt / Riot Games
The real issue there is the timing. Spots on good teams can all fill up quickly during the League of Legends offseason. Rumors and sources state that most tier 1 slots are already taken. The best tier 2 teams should be equally crowded.
Bwipo is a player of outstanding achievements, including recent ones. Whereas Adam and Targamas made Worlds, Bwipo played in the Finals in 2018. Gabriël Rau has a total of 6 Worlds appearances, only missing the tournament in 2022, and in 2023 when he didn’t play.
As for recent results, Bwipo won 3 of the last 4 splits of the LCS / LTA North. The top laner also reached Worlds Quarterfinals in 2024. FlyQuest then lost 2-3 to Gen.G in one of the most exciting series for a Western team.
Now, a player of this caliber might end up not playing in 2026, not even in an ERL. Bwipo was set to return to Europe to play for French Flair, but with his late dismissal, he might not end up able to find a spot elsewhere. Even while searching as both a jungler and a top laner.
Of course, tier 1 teams are also more hesitant to pick him after the comments he made earlier this year.
French Flair is now searching for a jungler again, and Bwipo is a free agent for jungle and top lane.
Featured Image Source: Yicun Liu / Riot Games
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