14 DAY TRIAL // The development team at EA Sports is announcing that it is forced to remove 13 players who are included in the women's national teams side of the football sim because of a complaint from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The NCAA has explained that the athletes would be risking their eligible status for college if they are part of the title, which is considered a commercial activity that they should not take part in.
The official announcement from EA Sports makes it clear that the decisions was taken to protect the players and that it believes that NCAA has abused its position.
The company explains, "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."
The players who are no longer part of FIFA 16 are: Kadeisha Buchanan - Canada, Jessie Fleming - Canada, Ashley Lawrence - Canada, Janine Beckie - Canada, Rebecca Quinn - Canada, Sura Yekka - Canada, Celia Jimenez - Spain, Tanya Samarzich - Mexico, Greta Espinoza - Mexico, Christina Murillo - Mexico, Amanda Perez - Mexico, Emily Alvarado - Mexico, and Maria Sanchez - Mexico.
FIFA 16 is the first title in the series to feature women players
The decisions made under pressure from the NCAA is especially troubling because this is the first time that the women's game has been featured in the series of simulation titles, with gamers able to select from a number of high-profile national teams.
EA Sports has created special models and animations to make sure that the girls perform as close to their real world counterparts as possible and offer an experience that's different from the men's game players are accustomed with.
The company does suggest that tweaks to the roster might be made after FIFA 16 launches.
The new game also introduces tweaks to all aspects of the simulation, an improved career mode, and a new Draft experience for the Ultimate Team mode.
FIFA 16 will be launched on September 22 in the United States and two days later in Europe, playable on the Xbox One, the PlayStation 4, the PC, and older home consoles.