Gabriel Jesus Faces Substantial Financial Setback Following Ban from Online Game for Alleged ‘Cheating’ in Counter-Strike 2

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus appears to be facing a substantial financial setback after receiving a ban from playing the popular video game, Counter-Strike 2.

Despite his recent on-field success, contributing to Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace with an assist for Leandro Trossard, Jesus found himself dealing with a different kind of challenge just days later. Expressing his plea on social media platform X, he reached out to Counter-Strike, urging them to reconsider his account ban. In a post, he stated, “Hi @counterstrike, my account received a VAC ban unfairly, can you help me? Follow the account link and print of the ban.”

Counter-Strike, known for its tactical first-person shooter gameplay, boasts immense popularity among Brazilians, with notable figures like Neymar and Casemiro being avid fans. Jesus, a dedicated player himself, reportedly invested around $40,000 in the game, acquiring various in-game skins, including an $800 customized M4A1-S Hot Rod gun.

The VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) ban on Jesus’ Steam account, however, raises questions about the grounds for the suspension. While cheating is a common reason for such bans, involving the use of software to enhance in-game performance, there have been instances of accidental bans, particularly affecting users with AMD GPUs during new driver updates.

The details surrounding Jesus’ alleged offense leading to the ban remain undisclosed. Unfortunately, VAC bans are typically permanent and rarely overturned unless proven to be a developer error.

Adding to the setback, Jesus will be unable to sell any of the in-game skins he amassed, as trading is prohibited during a ban. Notably, Jesus has a Twitch account where he previously garnered significant attention, with 10,000 viewers tuning in to watch him and Neymar play Counter-Strike.

The incident raises intriguing questions about the intersection of professional footballers and their involvement in the gaming world, showcasing the unexpected challenges they may face, even in virtual realms.