EA Sports will reportedly prevent Russia from appearing in its FIFA 23 video game, as reported Thursday, July 21.
FIFA 23 will not allow players to play as Russia according to EA Sports, including both the Russian national team and Russian clubs, Eurogamer reports.
EA Sports gave the following statement to the British-owned journalism website:
“EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and, like so many voices across the football world, calls for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine,” read a statement issued to Eurogamer.
“In agreement with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports will not include the Russian national team and Russian clubs in FIFA 23.”
On February 28, FIFA and UEFA suspended the Russian national team and clubs from all international tournaments.
Russia has since set out to create a soccer league for its controlled territories by 2023.
The Russian football league proposal was discussed by Russian Deputy Sports Minister Odes Baysultanov, who spoke of the first single league in which football clubs from Crimea and friendly republics could participate.
The news that EA Sports has removed Russia from FIFA 23 follows several bans on Russia, including the Russian motorcycle club “Night Wolves”, often referred to as “Putin’s Bikers”, who are banned from traveling in Europe, as well as the astronauts from Russia who are prohibited from using the European robotic arm. aboard the International Space Station.