If you pick up FIFA 17 , you might notice a country is missing. Iceland isn’t in this installment of the game. Which is weird, because it totally has a soccer team. That seems like quite an odd omission, considering the country made it to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals. It turns out, it’s not in EA’s game due to financial concerns. The country’s national team didn’t think EA was offering enough money for image rights and trademarks.
EA offered Iceland $15,000 to have the team appear in FIFA 17 . Iceland didn’t say how much they want, exactly. Geir Thorsteinsson, Iceland’s Football Association president, said, “They are the ones buying these rights, and they almost want it for free. I really feel if we are giving away rights, or offering rights, it has to be proper negotiations and fair fees.” $15,000 doesn’t sound like a bad offer to me, but then, we don’t know how much other teams were offered.
So, if you pick up FIFA 17 next week, know it isn’t exactly complete. Iceland isn’t in there right now. But 47 other national teams did accept whatever offers EA made and will have their teams in the game. Maybe appreciate the ones that are there a little more? Or, if you really like Iceland, send a polite note to EA about this issue?
Source: BBC