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05th Dec 2016

Russian MPs could ban Fifa 17 over ‘gay propaganda’

EA Sports supported the campaign in the UK to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football.

Simon Lloyd

Russian MPs have asked for action to be taken against the makers of Fifa 17  for violating the country’s law against gay propaganda.

Last month, the game invited users to support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces initiative, a campaign in support of  LGBT football fans and players, by making rainbow-coloured kits available in the game’s Ultimate Team Mode.

Screen Shot 2016-12-05 at 16.20.28

Communist MPs in the country have now sent a letter to state communications complaining that this breaks a law in the country.  According to the Guardian, the letter points out that a 2013 law states that propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations can cause ‘harm to children’s health and development’.

Watford v Stoke City - Premier League

It’s now been suggested that Fifa 17 could be banned in Russia as a result. According to quotes in Izvestia, United Russia MP Irina Rodnina – a three-time Olympic gold medallist in figure skating for the Soviet Union – has called on authorities to consider the possibility of stopping the game’s distribution throughout the country.

“Every state has its internal laws and order; they need to be obeyed,” she said.

The Rainbow Laces campaign has been run by UK-based organisation Stonewall. More information can be found on their website, which can be reached here.

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Topics:

FIFA 17,Russia