Fans at the ESL Pro League Season 23 playoffs in Stockholm directed a controversial chant toward Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen, repeatedly shouting “Pay your taxes!” during the match.
The moment happened shortly after news surfaced that the captain of Natus Vincere is involved in an ongoing tax investigation in Finland.
Tax Investigation in Finland
According to reports from Finnish media, the Finnish Tax Administration believes Aleksib may have incorrectly declared part of his esports income.
Investigators claim that between 2022 and 2024, the player received €598,155.78 in earnings from competitive gaming through his company Aleksib Oy. These funds were reportedly taxed as corporate income, which carries a lower tax rate.
However, tax authorities argue that the earnings should instead be classified as personal income, which would be taxed at a significantly higher rate.
Following the audit, officials reportedly made a €249,719.91 adjustment to the company’s profits, and the total tax liabilities could reach around €480,000.
Incident Draws Mixed Reactions
The crowd chant during the playoffs quickly spread on social media, sparking debate within the Counter-Strike community. While some fans treated it as typical esports crowd banter, others criticized the moment as inappropriate given that the case is still ongoing.
Despite the distraction, Aleksib continued leading NAVI through the playoffs as the team pushed toward the final stages of the tournament.
Comments2