Fifa 16: EA removes 13 female footballers following NCAA ruling

EA Sports FIFA 16 — USA star and World Cup winner Alex Morgan remains in Fifa 16 EA

Thirteen female footballers from Mexico, Canada and Spain have been removed from the Fifa 16 roster because their inclusion could affect their chances of participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned athletics at the American schools they currently or are due to attend.

The NCAA ruling has forced the removal of the players, who would have been among the very first women to be included in a football video game as part of EA's historic new feature for Fifa 16. EA is not happy about the development.

"We do not agree with this position," it said in a statement. "All rights were secured following standard protocol with national governing bodies and federations, and none of these NCAA student athletes or potential student athletes were to be individually compensated by EA Sports for their inclusion in the game.

"We believe this decision denies these 13 athletes the opportunity to represent their countries in the game, but we have removed them from Fifa 16 to ensure there is no risk to their eligibility."

The players who will be removed are...