Smooya apologized to Forze and the fans for his slogan after the match with Monte.
"Some people may have misinterpreted my playful response to Monte's tweet as an aggressive gesture towards Forze. However, that was not my intention. I stand with the team and strive to contribute to our success in Malta. I never deliberately tried to play poorly; I always did my best to win and will continue to do so in the future.
I acknowledge that my response was in poor taste. I'm still learning the nuances and meanings of certain expressions, and I never wanted to cause conflict or offense. I have great respect for Forze and their fans. I do not discriminate against people based on their nationality or skin color. If my recent messages inadvertently offended anyone, I offer my sincere apologies," wrote British player Owen "Smooya" Butterfield.
Smooya also announced that he will continue to compete in ESL Pro League 19. Forze's next match will be against Furia.
"Three lobby and smokes, Lech." How Smooya stood for Forze.
On April 30th, Smooya posted and deleted a Ukrainian slogan after the game with Monte. Harumi reported that the player was removed from the lineup.
Monte's Twitter account addressed Smooya after the match with Forze, stating that he deserves a better team.
Forze lost to Monte with a score of 0-2 in the first round of ESL Pro League 19. Smooya became the second-best player on Forze with a K/D score of 44-37.