Frozen out in cash row: Iceland’s Euro 2016 football heroes left out of FIFA 17

They were the unlikely heroes of Euro 2016 … but Iceland’s footballing stars are being denied digital glory. The team is missing from the eagerly awaited FIFA 17 computer game following a row over money. Game-maker Electronic Arts offered about two million Icelandic krona (£13,315) for the team to appear in the game. But the Icelandic Football Association turned down the offer and accused EA of showing them a lack of respect given their unexpected march to the quarter-finals of the tournament in France. KSI president Geir Thorsteinsson said: “We don’t accept bad treatment. We made them a counter-offer, which they did not accept.”

They are the ones buying these rights and they almost want it for free. I really feel if we are giving away rights, or offering rights, it has to be proper negotiations and fair fees.

Icelandic football supremo Geir Thorsteinsson

The Iceland squad gained an enthusiastic following during the European Championships, humiliating England with a 2-1 defeat in the last 16. France even copied Iceland’s “Viking Thunderclap” on their journey to the tournament’s final. But now, Icelandic marketing consultants have said they are dismayed with the decision - claiming KSI has missed a golden opportunity for exposure as smaller, cult teams are popular with players. FIFA 17 is slated for release on 27 September in the US, and will go worldwide two days later.

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