13 Women Footballers cut from FIFA 16

EA have had to remove 13 women footballers from FIFA 16 as they risked their eligibility for collegiate athletics if they remained included, EA has announced.

The 13 footballers in question are said to be currently attending or likely to attend NCAA-sanctioned schools in the U.S. when FIFA 16 launched. As a result of their attendeance to NCAA schools, the NCAA contacted EA stating that the women would be risking their eligibility to compete in college athletics. All but 1 of the athletes come from either Canada or Mexico.

“Of the hundreds of players on these rosters, 13 are currently attending or likely to attend NCAA-sanctioned schools in the U.S. 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,” state EA.

“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 affected players are as follow:

• Kadeisha Buchanan, Canada
• Jessie Fleming, Canada
• Ashley Lawrence, Canada
• Janine Beckie, Canada
• Rebecca Quinn, Canada
• Sura Yekka, Canada
• Celia Jiménez, Spain
• Tanya Samarzich, Mexico
• Greta Espinoza, Mexico
• Christina Murillo, Mexico
• Amanda Perez, Mexico
• Emily Alvarado, Mexico
• Maria Sanchez, Mexico