The announcement brought praise for EA at a time when Fifa is mired in its worst ever corruption scandal, but some (mostly male) fans seem annoyed about the development.
A torrent of misogynistic jokes on social media reveal the full picture:
https://twitter.com/Aidrianoo/status/603903149032796160
FIFA 16 career mode- 'Your star striker will be out for 9 months due to pregnancy'
— BiblicalShart (@BiblicalShart) May 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/TommAmor/status/603907117041455104
https://twitter.com/MohMarshad94/status/603907665253695492
Why would they put women in FIFA when 95% of players are boys??? Makes no sense
— George (@gainsley_) May 28, 2015
They're putting women in the next FIFA? Imagine that, playing career mode n one of your players are out for 2 days with a broken nail
— J’Wray 🇯🇲 (@JxstJxrds) May 28, 2015
FIFA 16 have introduced female players. Just imagine the violation you can give to your friends by beating them with a full women's team
— Agton (@agtonfernandes) May 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/GuyWhoLikesAFC/status/603906549073993729
https://twitter.com/sparrowsaunty/status/603907193549811713
Twelve international teams - including England - will appear in EA SPORTS FIFA 16, which will be released in September following this summer's Women's World Cup and features the legendary commentary of Sky Sports' Martin Tyler.
From distinctive movements to authentic facial features and hairstyles, the gaming giant has given the full virtual treatment to players from Mark Sampson's side, as well as those from fellow top-ranked teams Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the United States.
England captain Houghton, whose team-mates kick off their Canada campaign against France on June 9, while speaking to Sky Sports said: "The whole team are thrilled to be included in EA SPORTS FIFA 16. It's a really exciting year for women's football with the forthcoming World Cup and to find out we will be included in FIFA for the first time is a special feeling.
Hey Mom it's finally official!! I'm going to be in a video game😃👏🏽 https://t.co/py0qtCZHki
— Stephanie Labbé (@stephlabbe1) May 28, 2015
"To be one of the first female players included in the game is something we'll always be able to look back on and be proud of.
"Hopefully it will help raise the profile of the women's game even further. Quite a few of us in the team play FIFA so I'm sure there will be a bit of banter about our ratings and a few extra competitive games while we're away in Canada…. I'm looking forward to scoring as myself for the first time!"
Read: FIFA suspends 11 corruption suspects: official
While some people posted sexist comments about the upgrade, some stood up against all the hate the upgrade was garnering on social media.
https://twitter.com/mariaathesavage/status/604148308831948800
Looking at the FIFA 16 trend and it seems all women do is get pregnant and have periods, thanks for the update Twitter
— Annie (@_anniebravo) May 28, 2015
I don’t need feismm don’t be hard on men complaining about women in FIFA 16. They are just scared because they’ve never scored with a woman.
— WomanAgainstFeminism (@NoToFeminism) May 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/charlielunn182/status/603915551124127744
Some also decided to address the ongoing FIFA corruption scandal as opposed to commenting on the upgrade.
Will FIFA 16 have a microtransaction system that lets you bribe officials to get better players and win matches?
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) May 28, 2015
There are men complaining about women's teams finally being included in FIFA 16 & not complaining about the ACTUAL #FIFA corruption scandal.
— Tom Taylor (@TomTaylorMade) May 28, 2015
FIFA 16 looks amazing already http://t.co/HMIQZgPqZv
— Absen Bola (@AbsenBola) May 28, 2015
1732351485-0/Untitled-design-(2)1732351485-0-270x192.webp "india s tilak varma bcomes first batter with three straight t20 centuries")
1732351930-0/Express-Tribune-(2)1732351930-0-270x192.webp "india lead by 151 runs on day 2 of first bgt test against australia in perth")
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