EA Removes All Russian Clubs And National Team From FIFA 22

Following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, EA Sports has become the first gaming title publisher to release a public statement revealing that they will remove all Russian clubs and their National Team from FIFA 22. 

Shortly after the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Mykhailo Federov, called upon Xbox and PlayStation to block all Russian accounts from their platforms and temporarily remove all teams and players from their titles, EA Sports has obliged with the plea. 

EA Sports Remove Russian National Team And Clubs From FIFA 22

In a statement on Twitter, EA Sports have announced that they will follow in the footsteps of their sponsored governing body by calling for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine. Much like the footballing federation of FIFA, which have prohibited the participation of the Russian National Team from the World Cup (and Qualifiers) and Russian teams from international competitions (namely, Spartak Moscow from the Europa League), EA has removed Russian National Team and Clubs from FIFA 22. 

"In line with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports has initiated processes to remove the Russian National Team and all Russian clubs from EA Sports FIFA Products including: FIFA 22, FIFA Mobile, and FIFA Online. We are also actively evaluating related changes to other areas of our games," the statement reads.

FIFA recently outlined that the Russian National Team will not be allowed to compete in their World Cup Qualifier against Poland this month, ending their hopes of making it to Qatar. Spartak Moscow were also forced to be axed from the UEFA Europa League, giving RB Leipzig a free pass to the Round of 16.

These decisions follow a global condemning of any Russian-backed organisation in the sporting and media world, which directly impacts the economic position of Russia; forbidding Russian teams from competing in international competitions has been a huge factor in their currency falling to an all-time low, crippling their economy and the support to the Russian forces.

Will Mostovoi And Yashin Be Removed From FIFA 22 Ultimate Team?

It's not yet clear as to whether all Russian players will be removed from the popular online FIFA 22 mode Ultimate Team, including FUT Hero Aleksandr Mostovoi and Icon Lev Yashin. Many players may have unlocked players such as Mostovoi and Yashin through pricey Squad Builder Challenges, who will likely be wanting reimbursement for their efforts should Mostovoi be removed from the title. 

As of the time of writing, both players remain on Ultimate Team and are purchasable within the Transfer Market, along with all Russian players.

EA Sports' removal of Russian players comes shortly after the gaming world took their first stance against the Russian invasion, with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament organisers BLAST banning Russian-based teams and players from competing in their upcoming events. 

ESL - another CS:GO TO - also banned any Russian organisations from participating in their competitions, although they are allowing players and teams from Russia to compete, as long as they disassociate themselves from the organisations and sponsors that are linked to the Russian government.