Thirteen female footballers have been removed from EA Sports flagship football simulator FIFA 16 surrounding concerns that their inclusion in the game may jeopardise their eligibility for “collegiate athletics”.
EA’s statement said that they have been contacted by the North America’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and have removed the players following their advice.
The statement reads: “Of the hundreds of players on these rosters, 13 are currently attending or likely to attend NCAA-sanctioned schools in the US. The NCAA recently informed EA Sports that these 13 student-athletes would be risking their eligibility for collegiate athletics by being included in FIFA 16.”
“We do not agree with this position. All rights were secured following standard protocol with national governing bodies and federations, and none of these NCAA student-athletes or potential student athletes were to be individually compensated by EA Sports for their inclusion in the game.”</b>
The following players have been removed: Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Janine Beckie, Rebecca Quinn, Sura Yekka, Tanya Samarzich, Greta Espinoza, Christina Murillo, Amanda Perez, Emily Alvarado, Maria Sanchez, and Celia Jiménez.
This leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth after the great idea of including women’s international teams in FIFA 16, hopefully this mess can get sorted out and these ladies can be re-instated.
FIFA 16 releases on September 22nd.
