As always, we invite you to buy FUT 22 Coins quickly and securely on U7buy. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest information. Argentine legend Diego Maradona is to be permanently removed from FUT 22. He would no longer appear in the booster packs, SBC and FUT Draft.
Maradona – who passed away last year at the age of 60 – is featured in the famous sports developer’s game as an ICON card, but it has been reported that he could soon be excluded from the game.
Diego Maradona will no longer be in FUT 22.
According to Infobae by Eurogamer, Sattvica, the company of lawyer Matias Morla, has been recognised by a judge as part of a trademark lawsuit. The report comes after the creators of FUT previously reached a settlement with Maradona’s former manager Stefano Ceci. Despite the agreement, there was no evidence that Ceci had the authority to sign a document of such significance, which could see the former Napoli manager removed from the game. In addition, Maradona – who continues to appear in FUT 21 – would be left out of the envelopes, SBC and FUT Draft of both games due to a trademark dispute.
Another blow for virtual football
The news about Maradona comes just weeks after it was reported that FIFA wanted to charge the creators of FUT, $1 billion every four years for the use of his name, with developers believed to be considering changing the franchise’s name as the publisher’s 10-year licensing deal begins to come to an end.
FIFA has since announced that it has conducted a “thorough and strategic assessment” of the game’s status and has decided that there is a possibility of pursuing commercial agreements with other companies.
During its report, it appeared that the quote: “The future of gaming and e-sports for football stakeholders must involve more than one party controlling and exploiting all rights” was a dig at EA Sports.
It added: “FIFA is optimistic and excited about the future of gaming and e-sports for football, and it is clear that it must be a space occupied by more than one party controlling all rights.” The international governing body also claimed that multiple technology and mobile companies are “actively competing” to work with them.
“Accordingly, FIFA is engaging with various industry players, including developers, investors and analysts, to build a long-term vision for the gaming, eSports and interactive entertainment sector,” FIFA said.
The current licence expires after next year’s World Cup in Qatar, and reports suggest that FIFA apparently wants to charge much more for its rights. Therefore, if both parties are unable to agree on upgrade terms that satisfy them, a rebranding of the FUT game could be expected.