This week EA Sports removed former Manchester United player Mason Greenwood from FIFA 22 following his arrest for alleged domestic violence, rape and death threats to his partner, who accused him via social media. In a statement sent to The United Stand, an unofficial channel dedicated to the team’s coverage, the company said the player had been removed from active FIFA 22 teams and his appearance in FIFA Ultimate Team envelopes had been dropped. However, Greenwood’s card is still active in Ultimate Team mode, which means it can be sold and bought by players in the game market.
Player price skyrocketed in Ultimate Team mode
Greenwood was arrested on Sunday the 30th, after a social media post accusing him of mistreatment, rape and threatening to kill, and remains in detention. The player is suspended from Manchester United until further notice, and the club released a statement saying they “were aware of the images and allegations circulating on social media” but would not comment “until the facts have been established”. They also clarified that “Manchester United does not accept violence of any kind.” Nike cancelled its contract with the player, and in the statement said there was concern about the harsh allegations and that they would continue to monitor the situation. Team Viewer, the current sponsor of Manchester United, also announced that it was in direct contact with the team and welcomed the fact that immediate action had been taken in this regard. It is not the first time that Electronic Arts has acted quickly in a similar situation. In September last year the company removed Benjamin Mendy, Manchester City’s defender, following his arrest on four counts of rape and one count of sexual abuse. The player was unsubscribed from the game before the official release, but it was available on Ultimate Team for 24 hours, so the cards circulated for a few weeks and their price skyrocketed in the game market. In recent days the sale price of Greenwood cards increased by 100% in FIFA Ultimate Team.
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