Russian MPs has sent a letter to State Communications Oversight agencies to take a strict action against EA Sport’s FIFA 17 for violating the law against gay propaganda.
According to the complaint, FIFA 17 which is rated for all ages “invites users to support the English football premier league’s Rainbow Laces action, a massive campaign in support of LGBT”.
The letter states that this is the violation of the 2013 law that restricts such propaganda because it can cause “harm to children’s health and development”. The MPs have suggested that FIFA 17 could be banned in Russia.
According to MP Irina Rodnina, authorities need to “verify the possibility of distributing this game on the territory of the Russian Federation.” She further added that every state has its own laws and they need to be obeyed at all cost.
MP Valery Rashkin also said that following the investigation the government should ask the developers to “introduce changes to the programming code or the age classification of this information product, and if it refuses, adopt corresponding restrictive measures”.
This call for FIFA 17 ban in Russia is because EA was giving out a free rainbow calcio kit. EA was giving this digital item to support the Rainbow Laces campaign meant to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the sport.
While there is nothing wrong with EA Sports supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign but they should have been careful as they certainly have broken the state law.
Recently, EA decided to honor Chapecoense, who were flying to Colombia for the final of the Brazilian cup but their plane went down, in FIFA 17 Ultimate Team by giving free kit crest of the team to every player.
FIFA 17 is a football simulation game developed by EA Canada for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Source: The Guardian
