Argentina legend Diego Maradona has been removed from EA Sports' FIFA 22 video game after a row over image rights.
One 👏 of the greatest players of all time, Maradona was available to play with as an icon card in FIFA Ultimate 👏 Team, while he was also part of the Soccer Aid World XI team in the game.
However, he has now had 👏 to be removed, although EA expressed hope that he can be added back into the game in the future.
When users 👏 start the game the following message appears: “Due to a third party legal dispute, we must suspend Diego Maradona from 👏 appearing in FIFA Ultimate Team Packs, Ultimate Draft and the Soccer Aid World XI team.
“As such, Diego Maradona Icon Items 👏 will no longer be made available in Packs, SBCs and FUT Draft, and their price range has been fixed until 👏 further notice.
“We share our fans’ disappointment and hope to bring one of football’s greatest icons back in the game at 👏 some point in the future.”
Why FIFA 22 removed Maradona
The removal of Maradona from FIFA 22 is due to a debate 👏 of who owns Maradona's likeness rights, as reported by Videogameschronicle.
EA had signed a commercial agreement with Maradona's former manager Stefano 👏 Ceci. However, a court decided that Ceci didn't have the legal authority to make such deals.
Matias Morla, who is Maradona's 👏 lawyer, says that before his death in November 2024 Maradona had granted his image rights to his company Sattvica.
However, in 👏 March 2024 Sattvica was banned from using Maradona's brands after two of Maradona's daughters filed a dispute.
FIFA 22 image rights 👏 and how they work
In addition to the situation regarding Maradona, EA Sports have also had issues with licenses for some 👏 high-profile clubs.
For instance, four Italian teams — Juventus, Atalanta, AS Roma and Lazio — all appear in FIFA 22, but 👏 they are not referred to by their actual names and do not have official kits and badges in the game.
EA 👏 Sports also had to remove 17 national teams ahead of FIFA 22, including Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
Diego Maradona in FIFA 👏 22
Maradona was one of the icon cards in Ultimate Team. There were four different Maradona cards in the game, rated 👏 91, 95, 97 and 98 out of 100.
He was also part of the Soccer Aid World XI which can be 👏 used in kick-off matches.