Ukraine-Russia Crisis: EA Removes All Russian Teams From FIFA 22, NHL 22

Electronic Arts is removing the Russian national team and all Russian football clubs from its popular videogame title FIFA 22, as more companies distance themselves from the country following its invasion of Ukraine.

This effectively removes most Russian players from FIFA 22 as well, given only five current Russian national football team squad members — vice-captain Aleksandr Golovin, Denis Cheryshev, Aleksei Miranchuk, Fyodor Kudryashov, and Nikita Khaykin — play outside of the Russian Premier League.

The company also said it would remove Russian teams from NHL 22, its game title based on the National Hockey League.

EA's move comes days after the FIFA suspended Russia's national teams and clubs from international football and the NHL said it would no longer consider the country when looking at locations for any future NHL competitions.

From Apple to Nike, scores of companies have severed connections with Russia as western nations impose sanctions, including shutting out some Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial network.

© Thomson Reuters 2022