Look Sports Media – Ukrainian international and Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has found himself embroiled in fresh controversy, receiving a 28-day suspension from the competitive Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) platform, FACEIT. This digital ban comes as the footballer is already serving a provisional suspension from professional football, potentially lasting up to four years, following multiple failed drug tests. The latest incident highlights a concerning pattern for the high-profile athlete, extending his troubles from the pitch to the virtual arena.
The FACEIT suspension, effective February 4, 2026, was issued after Mudryk allegedly made inflammatory comments during CS2 gameplay. Screenshots circulating online reportedly show the winger referencing the "Massacres of Poles" in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during World War II, with one message purportedly stating "volyn next map." These remarks are understood to be a direct allusion to the historical atrocities committed against Polish people in the Volhynia region in the 1940s, a period marked by immense loss of life, including approximately six million Polish citizens during the war and German invasion.
Sources suggest these provocative comments were reportedly made in response to other CS2 players mocking Mudryk about his previous drug test failures. According to FACEIT’s established banning protocols, a four-week (28-day) suspension is typically levied against accounts with prior infractions. Upon the conclusion of this ban, Mudryk’s account will enter a three-month probationary period, during which any further toxicity violations could escalate to a year-long platform suspension.
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Mudryk’s current football hiatus began after he tested positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance banned by The FA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016. The initial positive test occurred in December 2024, leading to a provisional suspension. A subsequent positive test in June 2025 resulted in the potential four-year ban. He has not participated in an official football match since November 28, 2024.
The intersection of professional football and competitive CS2 is not uncommon. Many top footballers are avid fans and participants in Valve’s tactical shooter. Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr., for instance, is a vocal proponent, boasting over 11,000 hours in the game and even partnering with esports powerhouse FURIA. Mudryk’s Ukrainian national teammate, Oleksandr Zinchenko, has taken his passion a step further, owning his own CS2 esports organization, Passion UA, which regularly competes at Tier-1 events and holds a respectable 28th position in the Valve Global Rankings.
Even former West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá found his Counter-Strike group chat referenced during a trial, where he faced accusations of intentionally receiving yellow cards for betting purposes. While a joke about earning a third yellow to join a gaming session was initially considered suspicious, an independent Regulatory Commission ultimately accepted it as an innocent jest. Mudryk’s situation, however, presents a stark contrast, moving beyond casual banter to serious allegations of offensive conduct within the competitive gaming space.
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