Taoyuan Pilots' Foreign Player Swap Before PLG Game 7 Sparks Controversy; League: Rules Followed

(Taipei, April 17, 2024, reporter Chen Jung-shen) The defending champions of Taiwan's P.LEAGUE+, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, registered foreign player Setric Millner Jr. yesterday, sparking protest from the Taipei Fubon Braves who argue it may compromise competitive fairness in the championship series. The PLG league responded that the move fully complies with competition regulations.

The PLG championship series will hold its decisive Game 7 tomorrow. Seeking to defend their title, the Pilots registered Millner yesterday while removing Treveon Graham, whose performance failed to meet expectations. This move has drawn criticism from the opposing Braves organization, which issued a statement claiming the action violates league regulations, undermines competitive fairness, and damages the credibility of the league’s operational system.

The Braves pointed out that according to league rules, 'players whose registration changes are submitted less than 48 hours before a game’s deadline cannot be registered for that game.' The Pilots submitted their player registration change just 10 minutes before Game 6, and the Braves were unaware during the match that Graham had already been removed. The league’s operations department only announced the player change after Game 6 concluded.

The Braves further warned that if this case sets a precedent, teams could complete player registration changes during a game, continue using the original player, and allow the newly registered player to be eligible immediately in the next game. This would nullify the 48-hour rule designed to prevent teams from exploiting loopholes. The Braves urged the league to uphold competitive fairness and institutional credibility in accordance with its regulations.

In response, the PLG league stated that each championship game is an independent event. Since the Pilots registered Millner and removed Graham more than 48 hours before Game 7, the action fully complies with the competition regulations. The league urged the public to focus on the court and cheer for the players. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150617

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