FIFA 17 Ban Called by Russian MPs for “Gay Propaganda”

In a letter published in the newspaper Izvestia, Russian MPs have called for FIFA 17 to be banned over what they see as “gay propaganda,” according to a report from The Guardian.

Communist MP Valery Rashkin is quoted in the Izvestia article, saying that EA should “introduce changes to the programming code or the age classification of this information product, and if it refuses, adopt corresponding restrictive measures.”

The outburst was in response to EA's support of the Stonewall #RainbowLaces campaign, a UK-based LGBT support campaign, with the tagline “Make Sport Everyone's Game.”

Show your support, get your FREE Rainbow kit in FUT now! More on the #RainbowLaces campaign: https://t.co/2NohXaloXe pic.twitter.com/xSbY9G8wAp

— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) November 26, 2016Players are able to claim a free rainbow kit to show their support for the campaign in-game, in both singleplayer and multiplayer matches.

We've reached out to EA for comment, though it's unlikely that the company will bow to the demands. Dragon Age Inquisition included an openly transgender character, and EA-owned Maxis released a patch for The Sims 4 which added further gender customization options, including the addition of gender neutral clothing, voice style, and personality types.

It's also worth noting that the Premier League itself supports Rainbow Laces, with a large advertising push both online and at events.

Image credit Premier League.This isn't the first time the FIFA 17 team has worked in support of an important cause. Last week, a commemorative badge and kit were released to commemorate the deaths of 71 people that died in a plane crash, including members of the Brazillian soccer team Chapecoense.