FIFA player has been given a lifetime ban from the game by EA after racially abusing Ian Wright.
In May 2020, 18-year-old Patrick O’Brien lost a game of Ultimate Team whilst using an Icon card of the Arsenal legend. The teenager turned to social media to show his ire at the real life Wright and sent him 20 messages on Instagram, racially abusing the 57-year-old.
In a statement, EA have now confirmed that, following a sentencing last week that saw O’Brien avoid criminal conviction, the gamer has been given a lifetime ban.
“Ian Wright is part of our EA Sports family,” EA’s David Jackson said, “We hugely value his partnership and support, and we also want him to know he has our support.
“Last year, Ian was subject to a terrible, racist verbal attack by a player who lost a match of FIFA 20. This behaviour by the player was unacceptable on every level, and we will not tolerate it.
“Our Positive Play Charter guides our actions in a situation like this, and we’ve taken the action to ban the player permanently from playing or accessing our games. Racism must stop. We are committed to continuing our work in positive play, through actions that will make our communities fun, fair, and safe for everyone.”
The judge said there was ‘nothing to be gained’ from a criminal conviction and pointed to the guilty party’s 500 euro donation to the Irish Network Against Racism as proof of his genuine remorse.
