EWC Admin Guide Reiterates Saudi Arabian Laws Forbiding Criticism Of State

An employee handbook is usually just a guide of protocols and procedures. The one for EWC Admins contains reminders of Saudi Arabian laws and links to propaganda websites.

An obtained copy of the Esports World Cup (EWC) Admin Handbook shows that the documented didn’t just provide details of travel, accommodation and how to invoice expenses but also rules on how to dress in public and not to criticise the Saudi Arabian government. The topics, addressed in a section entitled “Saudi Arabia General Information,” also address “romantic relationships” and includes a link to the Saudi Arabian state’s Vision 2030 website.

The admin team working the event in Riyadh were provided with this documentation ahead of their travel to the event. The document makes it clear that employees are advised to dress modestly and warns that women who wear short clothes may attract a “negative gaze and disapproval” from locals. It also advises that they should “stay away from bright hues like red, yellow and green.” For men it states that they should avoid wearing “narrow jeans” and explains that t-shirts can only be worn in a non-formal setting.

It also provides instructions around Saudi Arabia’s Lese Majeste laws stating that any criticism of the state, the royal family or the flag is illegal and that foreigners are not exempt from the law.

The document echoes many of the concerns expressed in an independent breakdown of security risks by digital risk and investigations firm Nisos published on the 2^nd July. Their assessment also highlighted the potential for the Saudi Arabian state to use the event as an opportunity to gather information on competitors and stakeholders via data breaches and also highlighted Team Liquid’s plans to wear their jerseys with the Pride logo during competition posing a danger to their athletes.

The ESL FACEIT Group, who are running the esports tournaments in Riyadh on behalf of the EWC Group, have repeatedly voiced that they have no concerns about the safety of attendees. Ralf Reichert, former co-founder of ESL who was installed as CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, spoke briefly on that topic in an interview with Esports Insider:

“I think… in terms of human rights and all of that stuff you just mentioned, it’s obviously a society in change. And the Crown Prince said so in an interview recently on how they’re progressing and developing. With esports, we’re always at the forefront of change, we’re at the forefront of the next generation and I deeply believe that we’re working here in a society that is changing for the better.”

CEO of their parent company Savvy Games Group Brian Ward echoed those sentiments in an interview with VentureBeat.

“I had the same perspective on the place that most Westerners have and then I went there. It’s one thing to read about the diversification of the economy and the transformation of the society and modernization and more options for women. But it’s a different thing to go there and actually see it.”

However once the EWC tournaments began in earnest Reichert tempered some of those comments in an interview with BBC Newsbeat.

“Everyone is welcome. Everyone can participate in the competition and no-one will be discriminated against. That's a promise we can give. In every country in the world, there are different local habits and cultural norms, which you need to adhere to. So what we're telling everyone is, don't be explicit. Act locally to respect the local culture. And I think that's fair. It's something that happens all over the world."

This serves up a muddled and contradictory message, namely that progress and change are occuring but not in a way that will have any immediate impact. The document seems to be remarkable in its need to explicitly state these rules for employees and attendees, something not included in similar documentation for previous events run by the same company, and that it seems that there can be no guarantees of safety or intervention for those who deviate from these strict, repressive laws. It also seems strange that the document serves up a direct link to a Saudi Arabian state propaganda website outlining the kingdom’s plans for the next six years.

As it is our understanding that this publication is blacklisted by the ESL FACEIT Group we have not put in a request for comment.