EA Sports REMOVE all Russian clubs and national team from FIFA 22 amid Ukraine invasion
ALL Russian clubs and the national team have been taken off FIFA 22.
The video game's publishers EA Sports removed them after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked worldwide financial and sporting sanctions.
Fifa and Uefa banned Russian clubs and F1 chiefs axed the country's GP.
And the game-maker said in a statement: “EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and like so many voices across the world of football, calls for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine.
“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’re also actively evaluating related changes to other areas of our games.
“We will keep our communities up to date on any actions taken, and thank players for their patience as we work through these updates.”
On the real field of action, Russia have effectively been kicked out of the World Cup ahead of their planned play-off semi-final against Poland.
And Spartak Moscow have been dumped out of the Europa League.
But there was controversy when International Paralympic Committee declined to boot Russian and Belarus athletes out of the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, starting on Friday.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Most read in Football
Instead, competitors from those two countries can compete as neutrals 'under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table'.
EA Sports also moved swiftly last month when they took Mason Greenwood off their game.
The Manchester United striker, 20, was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
⚽ Read our Football News Live blog for breaking news, transfer gossip and must-read stories