FIFA 21 FUT Icon Cards Black Market Scandal

In the middle of the ongoing "EA Gate" scandal rocking the FIFA series, EA has suspended all optional content indefinitely.

EA Pulls Back the Curtain on the Scandal

Earlier this week, Eurogamer identified an EA employee who was found to be selling coveted FIFA Ultimate Team cards on the black market for thousands of pounds, and published their conversations with players.

The messages reference FUT Icon cards being obtainable for packages worth 750-1000 Euros. One WhatsApp message even appears to show three Prime Icon cards being offered for 1700 euros.

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What Are FUT 21 Icon Cards?

For anyone unfamiliar, Icon cards are among the top-tier player card groups you'd want to own from FIFA's Ultimate Team mode. They include legendary players like Brazilian Ronaldo, Pele, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Ruud Gullit, and getting these cards through the packs in question is next to impossible.

Even rarer are Prime Icon cards, created based on special performances players have shown in certain matches.

EA Launches an Investigation Into the Matter

EA had this to say on the matter: "Earlier this week, we became aware of suspicious activity related to high-rated players being pulled from packs in FIFA Ultimate Team. We learned that FUT items, which are meant to be earned through the game's own means, were being distributed to individual accounts on the black market. It appears that one or more EA accounts, either compromised by someone inside EA or improperly using those privileges, are distributing these items to individual accounts. The alleged behavior is unacceptable, and we do not condone giving or purchasing player items for money in any way. This practice runs counter to the game's competitive integrity, and this action constitutes a breach of EA's User Agreement, which is something we will not tolerate. We will not allow the trading or sale of items outside our game for a number of reasons, including that it creates an unequal playing field for our community."

Following its initial investigation, EA pointed out that the suspicious activity involved "a very small number of accounts and items," and described the alleged incident as "unacceptable."

EA later promised to take action against any employee found to have engaged in this activity, remove all items distributed through the FUT ecosystem, and permanently ban any player known to have purchased them.

EA's investigation is ongoing, and according to the company's statement, information on how this was done and which accounts received the items has been shared.

EA is already facing two lawsuits tied to Ultimate Team as well: one in the United States, alleging it violates California's gambling laws, and another in which Canada accuses EA of running "an unlicensed, illegal gaming system through FUT cards."