MARCO VAN BASTEN has been pulled from all FIFA 20 platforms after he was recorded saying “Sieg Heil” during a live TV broadcast.
The three-time Ballon D’or winner was working for Fox Sport at the time of the incident and was suspended for a week by the American network.
Gone: Marco Van Basten is no longer a FIFA ICON
The term sieg heil was frequently used at Nazi rallies and translates to “Hail Victory”.
EA have now taken their own action against the Dutch legend, confirming Van Basten will no longer appear on FIFA 20 across all platforms.
EA said: “We are aware of recent comments made by Marco Van Basten. We have an expectation that our commitment to equality and diversity is upheld across our game.
“As such we will suspend the Marco Van Basten ICON items from being available in packs, SBC’s and FUT draft until further notice.”
Van Basten, 55, is among a number of legends who players can use in the Ultimate Team (FUT) format of the game.
He is joined by the likes of Pele, George Best, Zinedine Zidane and Paolo Maldini as former greats who are available to collect.
The players are among the highest rated in the game and are therefore highly coveted in one of the FIFA franchise’s most popular game formats.
Coins which are earned in the game are used in exchange to purchase cards or packs which can be traded with other FIFA players.
Players who have already won Van Basten will not lose their card and will still be able to use him in the FUT game mode, it is understood.
Van Basten was not on screen when he made the comment but his mic was still active when he was picked up supposedly mocking presenter Hans Kraay’s German as he interviewed Hercales manager Frank Wormuth.
He was heard saying: “Not too pretty, sieg heil, pfannkuchen (pancake).”
The former AC Milan and Ajax man, who won the 1988 European Championships with Holland, has since apologised for his comments.
He said: “It was not my intention at all to shock people, I only wanted to explain Han’s German.”
Fox Sport, meanwhile, have described Van Basten’s actions as “stupid and inappropriate.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
