A spectator was removed from the LANXESS arena at IEM Cologne Major 2026 after he ran onto the stage during the second map of the semifinal match between Team Falcons and Team Spirit. The incident occurred on June 20.
According to HLTV, ESL had increased security around the stage in anticipation of possible provocations before this match, but they were unable to prevent the breach. Following the incident, organizers added more security personnel near the stage to prevent similar situations from occurring again.
ESL StatementToday, a security breach occurred when a fan gained unauthorized access to the stage area. We immediately took action and removed the violator from the venue. Since then, additional security measures have been implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. The safety of players, talent, staff, and spectators remains our top priority, and we take such matters very seriously.
Let us remind you that in that very series, Team Falcons defeated Team Spirit with a score of 2:1 and advanced to the grand final of the major.
