ONE of the most controversial changes to football games in years has had fans and players divided.
For the first time ever, EA Sports FC 24 is allowing women players to join the men side by side in the most popular mode, Ultimate Team.
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However, Arsenal legend and EA Sports FC Ambassador Ian Wright had made his stance on the latest change loud and clear.
He tells GLHF: “Boys and girls play up to the age of 12 and they’re not fussed about that, in a game you know, men and women can play in the icons team.
“I’m gonna have some of the girls in my [Ultimate] Team.”
Wright is full of enthusiasm for the addition of women in Ultimate Team, including players from NWSL, WSL, Liga F, and Frauen-Bundesliga.
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He says: “It’s a beautiful thing, football is for everybody, so it’s great to see that it’s finally being recognised on this level,” he said.
Despite retiring in 2000, you can still choose Wright for your team via UT Icons, and the first female Icon is Wright’s former clubmate and longtime friend Kelly Smith.
Wright is proud of the advancements made, saying: “It’s fantastic for the Icons, players like Marta and Kelly Smith, all the great players that we can mention, Mia Hamm too, it goes back!
“So, to see it on a level playing field now for people playing the game with [UT], it’s brilliant.”
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In terms of the Lionesses, Wright named Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson as some of the quality players someone could add to their team.
However, not everyone shares the same sentiment, and there have been many players outspoken online about not wanting mixed-gender teams in FC 24.
Wright’s advice was to: “try not to take notice of people like that, because they’re not really the people you want to reach.
“The fact is, we’ve got to stop putting emphasis on those people who are being negative, it’s not important what they think.
“It’s gathering so much momentum, the support for the women’s game, that you can’t really be dragged back by people who think negatively.
“The people who can see that this is a beautiful thing in the game [FC], can see that it’s something that will benefit the game [in real life].”
For those already playing, people have welcomed women players, with a number devastated that 89-rated Ada Hegerberg was removed.
If you want to read more about the game, you can check out our EA FC 24 review.
Interview conducted by Alex Bugg and written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
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