A new in-game rainbow uniform supporting LGBTQ people has been00% Natural Friend’s Older Sister (2025)the receiving end of homophobia and construed as "gay propaganda" in Russia.
The colourful kit was provided to players of popular soccer video game FIFA 17until Nov. 28, as part of the game's online "Ultimate Team" component.
SEE ALSO: This is what it looks like when LGBTQ teens tell their own storiesIt was created in tandem with the English Premier League's promotion of the Rainbow Laces campaign by UK charity Stonewall, which encourages LGBTQ inclusivity in sport.
But it hasn't been received well by some Russian politicians, who want action against the game for violating the country's law against gay propaganda, according to The Guardian.
Since 2013, it has been illegal to promote "non-traditional family values" in the country.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
The politicians have complained to the state's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, asking to investigate if the pro-LGBTQ campaign is in compliance with Russian law.
United Russia MP Irina Rodnina, a former gold medal-winning figure skater, told Izvestiashe wants authorities to "verify the possibility of distributing this game on the territory of the Russian Federation".
"Every state has its internal laws and order; they need to be obeyed," she told the newspaper.
Following the investigation, Communist MP Valery Rashkin told Izvestiahe wants authorities to order EA Sports to "introduce changes to the programming code or the age classification of this information product, and if it refuses, adopt corresponding restrictive measures".
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Homophobic tweets calling the kit a "shame" have also been sent to EA Sports, as well as reports of gamers quitting when up against another player with the kit in FIFA 17.
It's not the first time the FIFAseries has been up against toxic gamers when trying to promote equality and inclusivity.
Last year's FIFA 16finally added female soccer players to the game, leading to an outpouring of misogynistic comments online.
Haters, it's 2016.
Mashablehas contacted EA Sports for comment.
Topics Gaming LGBTQ
(Editor: {typename type="name"/})
Best robot vacuum deal: Save $200 on Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum
Best Prime Day Kindle deal: $45 off Kindle Paperwhite
Workers Have Feelings, Too, and Other News by Dan Piepenbring
Looking for Fractals in Literature
Your 'wrong person' texts may be linked to Myanmar warlord
Things People Do: Four Paintings by Mernet Larsen
SpaceX's Starlink internet is now available in 32 countries
Twitter says it will 'enforce' Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition deal
The fat bears are already extremely fat
Best Prime Day Kindle deal: $45 off Kindle Paperwhite
Boeing's new VR simulator immerses astronauts in space training
Snapchat's crying filter is going viral on TikTok
接受PR>=1、BR>=1,流量相当,内容相关类链接。