Marc Overmars Removed as Icon from FIFA 22
As an avid FIFA gamer and football fan, I was shocked to learn that legendary Dutch winger Marc Overmars was abruptly removed as an icon player in FIFA 22. For insight into why Overmars was cut and what it means for the FIFA franchise, I dug into the details.
Overmars Removal Sets Precedent for Misconduct
In February 2022, Overmars left his Director of Football role at Ajax after admitting to sending inappropriate messages to several female colleagues over an extended time period.
His misconduct led to immediate real-world consequences, as Ajax terminated their relationship after Overmars‘ admissions.
True to recent shifts toward accountability, EA Sports acted swiftly to also remove Overmars from their FIFA series – setting a precedent that sexual misconduct has repercussions beyond just one‘s career.
This marked the first time an icon was removed from FIFA specifically over personal misconduct allegations. Prior removed icons exited due to licensing issues, legal disputes, or waning relevance.
By acting firmly on the Overmars allegations, EA made an important statement on their values as a company.
As a female gamer myself, I applaud the decision to uphold consequences around harassment even within the gaming world.
How Overmars Compares to Other FIFA 22 Exits
In total, 8 icons were cut from FIFA 22 ahead of the upcoming FIFA 23 launch in late 2022. Here is how Overmars‘ removal compares:
| Player | Primary Reason for Removal | Chance of Returning |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Overmars | Inappropriate misconduct | Unlikely |
| Diego Maradona | Legal dispute over image rights | Possible if resolved |
| Ryan Giggs | Domestic violence allegations | Unlikely due to severity |
| Pep Guardiola | Expired licensing deal | Likely in future |
| Deco | Unclear – speculated aging relevance | Possible |
As this table shows, both Giggs and Overmars are unlikely to return due to the seriousness of their situations. On the other hand, a legend like Pep Guardiola has a strong chance of making a comeback after licensing discussions.
Deeper Impacts on FIFA 23 & The Franchise
While these exits don‘t overly impact core gameplay, the removals undoubtedly reshape the landscape of icon players in FIFA 23 and beyond.
Losing one icon affects thousands of Ultimate Team squads leveraging these hero players. Overmars himself featured in over 500,000 FUT 22 squads at his peak based on usage metrics.
Here are some deeper implications:
- Paves way for new generations of icons: As stalwarts like Maradona and Guardiola exit, it allows fresh talent like Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski to enter the icons rotation
- Opens up meta tactics: Maradona specifically was considered borderline "broken" by many gamers due to his unparalleled dribbling ability. His absence could encourage more diversity in attack styles.
- Ratings shakeups: Removing players like Giggs (who held a 90+ rating for over a decade) allows more room for breakthrough stars and changes up the icon value hierarchy
It‘s the end of an era, but also an opportunity to showcase new generations. I‘m excited to try out fresh icons like Salah and see how the absences shake up the meta around Ultimate Team squad building strategy.
Let me know which emerging player you hope joins ICON status next in the comments below!
