You Cannot Remove Your Shirt in FIFA 22 – Here‘s Why

As an avid FIFA gamer and soccer fanatic myself, one of the first things I tried when I loaded up FIFA 22 was ripping off my striker‘s jersey after slotting home a smooth finesse shot in the 89th minute.

But to my dismay…nothing happened. My player simply wheeled around with his arms spread wide, fully clothed in his default club kit.

So to give a clear answer up front – no, you cannot take off or remove jerseys or any other equipment in FIFA 22 during gameplay. Even if you score an absolute banger worthy of the Puskas Award.

This might be disappointing if you‘re looking to emulate iconic shirtless celebrations like Brandi Chastain‘s 1999 Women‘s World Cup clincher or even Super Bowl halftime show vibes.

But it makes complete sense when you consider that FIFA aims to authentically simulate real soccer. And per the Laws of the Game, taking off shirts on the pitch is prohibited.

So let‘s break down exactly why players can‘t go shirtless in FIFA, rules around shirt removal, plus some alternate customization options if you still want unique looks for your squad.

Why Taking Off Shirts Violates FIFA 22‘s Realism

Part of what makes the FIFA franchise so immersive year after year is its commitment to mirroring real-life soccer. The gameplay mechanics, animations, commentary, stadium atmospheres, crowds, chants, and more all strive to make you feel like you‘re managing messi and Ronaldo out on an actual pitch.

And when it comes to following the rules, FIFA takes things seriously as well.

Specifically, FIFA adheres to the real-life soccer guidelines around equipment laid out in Laws of the Game Law 4:

"A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous."

Removing shirts or any clothing items mid-match could theoretically introduce tripping hazards or distractions that interfere with fair play.

On top of that, Law 12 strictly prohibits taking off jerseys when celebrating goals, imposing automatic cautions for players who violate this:

"A player must be cautioned for…removing the shirt over the head or covering the head with the shirt."

So by restricting shirt removal, FIFA 22 simply stays true to authentic soccer protocol. It‘s all part of the commitment to giving gamers an immersive, realistic experience even down to following the rules.

Having Zlatan or Ronaldo rip off their kits to flex would shatter that lifelike atmosphere and believability.

What Actually Happens If You Try Removing Equipment

As a test, I tried frantically mashing every button on my PS5 controller when I scored in FIFA 22, desperately willing my player to tear off his jersey. But as expected, nothing happened – he simply proceeded automatically into one of the pre-programmed celebrations instead.

That‘s because the developers never created any shirt removal mechanics or animations to allow this. So any attempt to manually take off shirts or pants mid-match won‘t have any effect.

And while it would admittedly be entertaining for some laughs or viral clips, it makes sense that EA hasn‘t devoted resources to developing intricate shirt stripping animations. At the end of the day, that level of realism has no actual impact on gameplay.

Not to mention soccer icons like Messi, Mbappé, and Rapinoe probably wouldn‘t approve of seeing themselves randomly disrobing on virtual pitches!

Alternate Jersey Customization Options

Now I get that customizing your squad‘s style adds to the fun and connection in FIFA.

Luckily, even though you can‘t strip players shirtless mid-match, FIFA 22 does give you other options to craft your team‘s look:

• Change default kits in Team Management
• Apply custom tifos, badges, banners, flags, etc.
• Designate multiple captains with armbands
• Equip customized balls, goal nets, stadium dressings
• Unlock celebration moves, gestures, dances and more

So while whipping off shirts is still off the table, you have plenty creative avenues to put your own stamp on matches.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the limitations around shirt removal exist simply because FIFA aims to provide an authentic experience that aligns with real soccer.

And per the rules that actual players abide by out on the pitch, keeping shirts firmly on is mandatory – even amid the most epic goal celebrations.

It might be a buzzkill in some gamers‘ eyes. But adhering to these guidelines is critical for maintaining the storied FIFA realism that keeps millions coming back year after year.

So while I can‘t fulfill my dreams of a shirtless last-minute winner celebration just yet, I‘m more than happy to play along if it means enjoying gameplay mirroring the real beautiful game.

Maybe in FIFA 47 we‘ll finally get dynamic bare chest celebrations capturing every ab and tat in 4K. But for now, keeping kits firmly on is a concession my inner gamer is willing to accept!