A permanent-ban screen is serious, but an appeal is possible if you believe the decision was wrong. An appeal is not a promise of reinstatement.
On October 11, 2026, a League of Legends player raised a worrying question on Reddit: how could an apparently sudden permanent ban follow AFK penalties? The original post has since been removed, so the surviving comments are the evidence for the discussion, not an independently verified account record.
The player returned on October 12 to say the ban had been lifted. They mentioned seven AFK penalties across six years and said the reason for the sudden escalation was not explained. That is one player's report. It does not establish a new Riot policy, a widespread bug, or a guaranteed outcome for other appeals.
Riot's AFK guide mostly describes escalating queue delays and lockouts, rather than an automatic permaban after a specified number of idle games. Its separate suspension guide says serious misconduct can sometimes lead to an immediate permanent ban. Crucially, it also says correctly issued punishments stay in place.
If the punishment appears mistaken, check the stated reason and duration at login. Then use Riot Support's ticket form and select “Discuss a Personal Suspension, Ban, or Restriction.” Explain what actually happened; avoid assuming your case matches a stranger's thread.
Bottom line: the Reddit update offers a reason not to give up immediately, not a loophole for escaping valid penalties. Nobody wants to fight the toughest boss in League before even reaching champion select: the login screen.
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