Gentle Mates CS2 player Martinez has issued a public apology following his inappropriate remark during his team’s ESL Pro League Season 22 elimination match against The MongolZ.
The incident unfolded during the 38th round (triple overtime) of the potential knockout game when Martinez was heard shouting “Jackie Chan,” a comment that immediately drew criticism after being caught on the live broadcast. Shortly after the match, Martinez took to social media to express remorse for his words, acknowledging the gravity of his mistake.
“I want to sincerely apologize for the words I said during our recent match against The MongolZ. What I said was completely inappropriate, and I now understand how disrespectful and hurtful it can be,” he wrote.
In his statement, the Spanish player reflected on how his cultural background may have influenced his awareness but refused to use that as an excuse. “Coming from a different culture, I haven’t always had the right awareness or reflexes when it comes to certain words or references, but that’s not an excuse. It’s entirely my responsibility to educate myself and to do better,” Martinez added.
Martinez went on to reaffirm his opposition to any kind of discrimination, saying, “I want to make it very clear that I absolutely condemn any form of racism or discrimination. What I said doesn’t reflect who I am or what I believe in.” He also took the time to personally address all those affected by his behavior, stating, “I’m deeply sorry to the people I may have offended, to The MongolZ players, to my teammates, and to my organization for letting them down at an important moment for the team.”
He concluded his statement by expressing readiness to face any disciplinary measures that may follow. “I fully accept and respect any decision or sanction the club decides to take. I’ll take this as a moment to learn, to reflect, and to make sure something like this never happens again,” he wrote.
The MongolZ, meanwhile, responded to the situation with surprising grace and humor. Their official account replied to his post with a simple, “No offense taken,” after posting a playful screenshot from the movie Rush Hour with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, captioned: “He said ‘Jackie Chan’ and I said ‘G’. I think it’s bromance.”
Both teams are currently competing at ESL Pro League Season 22, one of Counter-Strike 2’s premier international tournaments, where professional conduct is expected to match the level of competition. Gentle Mates have emerged as one of Europe’s promising lineups, while The MongolZ continue to represent Asia with strong global performances throughout 2025.