One of the most unique things about this year’s FIFA iteration is that it finally includes ladies. This was a great way to raise exposure for women in the sport, as well as allow for some interesting new gameplay with women’s football teams included for the first time. However, thanks to the NCAA, EA was forced to take a step backwards.
While I was happy about the inclusion of a whole bunch of women in FIFA 16, apparently the National Collegiate Athletic Association wasn’t as happy about it. EA explained in a statement:
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.
We believe this decision denies these 13 athletes the opportunity to represent their countries in the game, but we have removed them from FIFA 16 to ensure there is no risk to their eligibility.
I feel bad for the ladies excluded from the game. They could have done very well as a result and now they are losing that opportunity. I’m sure more opportunities will arise over time, but it just seems counterintuitive that an organization whose purpose is to promote the sport would actually undermine players in this way. Then again, it doesn’t sound that bizarre to us locally – our national sports association seems to do the same for eSports on a regular basis.
Last Updated: September 18, 2015
Gavin Mannion
September 18, 2015 at 08:11
What is it with sporting bodies and their need to control every aspect of the sport. Tinpot dictators, all of them
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
September 18, 2015 at 08:34
*Asshat, airthieving, breathe wasting, innately useless, whole-fully undermining, self entitled, mostly idiotic, but for the most part sport image wrecking, tinpot dictators….
Brady miaau
September 18, 2015 at 10:25
follow the money?
Aries
September 18, 2015 at 11:30
And I bet you they couldnt run to save there lives
Stosta
September 18, 2015 at 08:24
Yep, I would be pissed if they made me into a game, and some chop I don’t even know convinced them to take me out of it.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
September 18, 2015 at 08:37
It cheeses me off to think that a body, that was appointed to support and promote a sport, would do this… Unfortunately, this only shows what a big role politics play in any form of sports, we as South Africans should understand that all too well….
HairyEwok
September 18, 2015 at 08:46
Are we looking at the rugby team as we say that?
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 08:54
You don’t have enough colour representation in that question. So SHUT IT!
Loftus
September 18, 2015 at 09:05
He is a Ewok! How can we know for sure there isn’t enough colour representation in his question? Beers, shaving cream and blades ? 🙂
HairyEwok
September 18, 2015 at 09:08
O.o it might be hard to believe but us Ewoks are colour blind. Everything is a black and white badly narrated film to us. That’s why we throw rocks and poop, we can’t tell the difference in colour.
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 09:11
That actually makes sense. You can have it, THIS TIME.
Loftus
September 18, 2015 at 09:12
We can’t trust his word on this, still think we should get him drunk and shave him from head to toe!
HairyEwok
September 18, 2015 at 09:13
You’ll have to deal with a naked mole rat then
Loftus
September 18, 2015 at 09:15
Mental scarring Lv99…..still worth it! hahaha
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 09:26
What? To find THIS underneath all the hair?! Fuck that NO! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/abc19127595013500e068f9f39250f8964a3aec12392f1657b0734bfb8b3f041.jpg
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
September 18, 2015 at 09:48
Every sports team in SA, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jukskei will also go through this….
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 08:51
Really? Man oh man. The fat cats like to show their POWA by doing the dumbest fucking things don’t they?
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 18, 2015 at 09:10
From what I’ve read about collegiate sporting authority bodies in the US, this is par for the course.
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 09:11
Get in the corner!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 18, 2015 at 09:14
Why are you penalising me? Was I off-side?
HairyEwok
September 18, 2015 at 09:15
Quick! Fake a injury.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 18, 2015 at 09:24
AAAAARRRRRRRGHHHH MY LEG! I THINK IT’S BROKEN! HE BROKE MY LEG, REF! …. Wait, no I’m fine everyone, it’s okay.
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 09:24
STAPH! PLEEEEEZ!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 18, 2015 at 09:25
You want a staph infection? That’s… odd. O_o
RinceThis
September 18, 2015 at 09:35
You, TIME OUT!
Brady miaau
September 18, 2015 at 09:57
nice one.
Marcus
September 18, 2015 at 09:49
That’s the thing about pricks, they always find a reason to be a prick. Anyway, it’s a sports game not a kitchen cook-off! *runs*
Ragnar The Vengeful
September 18, 2015 at 10:09
What is this thing about the lack of woman being represented in football? I thought it was a sport for girls and sissy-boys…
Marcus
September 18, 2015 at 11:28
How dare you, you filthy muggle! Good point tho…