Fnatic have officially shifted Veqaj to their inactive VALORANT roster due to medical issues, ending speculation that his absence was just a short-term scratch. The org has lined up CyvOph as his replacement for the rest of Stage 1.
The move is a formal one, not a one-match benching. In VCT EMEA, when a player is unavailable for an extended stretch, teams have to register a substitute through proper channels. That paperwork is why “inactive roster” sounds heavier than it actually is in this case, the language reflects league rules rather than any kind of performance demotion.
Fnatic haven’t shared the specific nature of Veqaj’s condition, which is fairly standard practice when it comes to player health. No return date has been given either.
CyvOph slotting in for Stage 1 raises the obvious question of how far this stretches. Fnatic have already secured a playoff spot, so if CyvOph’s deal covers the full stage, Veqaj would be sidelined through the postseason too, even if he recovers in time.
That is a real problem competitively. Veqaj has been one of Fnatic’s steadiest performers since joining, with strong showings through Kickoff and the finals run that came with it. Plugging in a replacement mid-stage on a top-tier roster usually means rewiring role assignments, utility timings, and mid-round comms on short notice.
