EA Sports removes 13 women from FIFA 16 to preserve NCAA eligibility

EA Sports removed 13 women's national team players from FIFA 16 in order to preserve their NCAA eligibility.

EA Sports removed 13 women's national team players from FIFA 16 in order to preserve their NCAA eligibility, the company announced Thursday. 

The NCAA recently informed EA Sports that the current and future student-athletes featured in the game were at risk to lose the right to play college sports. Of the 13 removed players, six were from Canada and Mexico, respectively, and one was from Spain.

“We do not agree with this position,” EA Sports said in a statement. “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.

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“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,” EA Sport added.

FIFA 16 will be released on Sept. 22.

- Kayla Lombardo