After many back and forth Diego Armando Maradona will no longer appear in the FIFA video game. EA Sports made the official announcement after a presentation in the Argentine Justice by the company Sattvica (chaired by lawyer Matías Morla) at the Civil and Commercial Court No. 8. Through it, the firm asked to ban the use and exploitation of the brand and image of its represented in one of the most popular games in the world.
According to the ruling that bears the rubric of federal judge Marcelo Gota, the company was obliged to remove the letter of the Ten from the new edition of the video game. “Immediately cease the use of the trademarks indicated in Annex 8a of the application, which by any means may be made, and must also refrain from using such signs on the platforms through which it distributes FIFA21, FIFA Ultimate Team, FIFA Street, FIFA World Class Soccer, Football Manager and EA Ultimate Player; as well as to cease advertising for such products, whether in brochures, the Internet, radio, television and/or any other means of dissemination”, says the resolution.
The litigation began last year after Sattvica learned that the contract had been signed by Stefano Ceci, a former friend of Diego, who did not have the power to do so because the Justice had revoked a transfer of image given to him by Maradona in August 2020, three months before his death. The firm took action against EA Sports for a sum close to three million dollars. The company that created FIFA officially announced that “due to a legal dispute by third parties, we must suspend Diego Maradona from the FIFA Ultimate Team, Ultimate Draft and Soccer Aid World XI packs”. He added “we share the disappointment our fans feel and hope to re-incorporate one of the greatest icons of world football in the future.”
THE MESSAGE FROM THE FIFA TEAM:
“Due to a legal dispute by third parties, we must suspend Diego Maradona from the FIFA Ultimate Team, Ultimate Draft and Soccer Aid World XI packs. Therefore, Diego Maradona ICON items will no longer be available in packs, DCP and FUT Draft and their price range will remain at their current value until further notice.
We share the disappointment our fans feel and hope to be able to re-incorporate one of the greatest icons of world football in the future.”
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