EA Sports removes 13 women from FIFA 16 due to NCAA eligibility

TORONTO

Kadeisha Buchanan, a teenage defender who starred at this summer's Women's World Cup, is among six Canadians dropped from the FIFA 16 video game because of a dispute with the NCAA.

The EA Sports title is made in suburban Vancouver, British Columbia, and is scheduled for release Tuesday. It features Canada and 11 other women's national teams for the first time.

The video game developer said Thursday the six Canadians, six Mexicans and a Spanish player had to be removed from the game because of the risk of losing their college eligibility.

EA Sports said in a statement it does not agree with this position. It adds that ''all rights were secured following standard protocol with national governing bodies and federations'' and none of the players in question were to be paid by EA Sports.

In July, a U.S. federal judge approved a $60 million settlement for college athletes in a class-action lawsuit filed against the NCAA and Electronics Arts. The plaintiffs contended the defendants illegally used college football and basketball players' names and likenesses in video games.

Other players involved are Canada's Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Janine Beckie, Rebecca Quinn and Sura Yekka; Mexico's Tanya Samarzich, Greta Espinoza, Christina Murillo, Amanda Perez, Emily Alvarado and Maria Sanchez; and Spain's Celia Jimenez.