EA Sports announced today that the new FIFA 23 will not include Russian clubs nor the Russian national team. The maneuver follows what happened in FIFA 22 after the invasion of Russia against Ukraine. The official press release states that the decision was made in agreement with the partners FIFA and UEFA.
No Russia in FIFA 23: “We remain in solidarity with the Ukrainian people”
The announcement took place in a press release, in which EA Sports stated the following:
“In line with our partners FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports will not include the Russian national team or Russian clubs in the new chapter of the FIFA video game. EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and, like so many voices around the football world, calls for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine“.
The message echoes what the company said in March 2022, condemning the military action of the Kremlin. On that occasion, EA had removed all references to Russian players and clubs from FIFA 22. On the contrary, all Russian sponsors were left in the game, although UEFA had ceased its partnership with those brands. A prominent example is Gazproman energy company owned by the Russian Federation, still present in FIFA 22.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that FIFA 23 will include women’s clubs. Not Russians though.