Russian and Belarusian national clubs will be removed from Electronic Arts’ FIFA 22 and NHL 22, as the global backlash towards those nations for the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine filters through world sports and into their video games.
FIFA, the Union of European Football Associations, and the International Ice Hockey Federation all leveled sanctions on Russia earlier in the week, starting with UEFA’s removal of the Champions League final from St. Petersburg. Then FIFA, under heavy pressure led by the Polish soccer federation, suspended Russia out of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on Monday.
Also Monday, the International Olympic Committee, which closed the 2022 Olympic Winter Games two weeks ago, called on all international sports federations to ban Russian athletes and teams from global competition.
The IIHF followed suit by expelling Russia and Belarus from six tournaments…
