Mark Overmars has been removed from FIFA 22 Ultimate Team with immediate effect following his departure from Ajax, EA Sports has confirmed.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward left his role as Ajax 's director of football on Sunday after admitting he sent inappropriate messages to female colleagues at the club, a post he had held since back in 2012.
Following his departure from the Dutch giants, Overmars' FIFA 22 Ultimate Team Icon items, which are special upgraded items given to former legendary players, have been suspended from appearing in any packs or drafts.
EA Sports confirmed Overmars' suspension from FUT 22 via an in-game message that appeared on Wednesday evening.
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"To the FIFA community, Marc Overmars has been suspended from appearing in FIFA Ultimate Team Packs and Ultimate Draft," Read the message from EA Sports.
"As such, Marc Overmars ICON items will no longer be made available in Packs, SBCs and FUT Draft, and their range in the Transfer Market has been fixed until further notice. The FIFA Team."
At time of writing, Overmars' FUT 22 Icon items are still being listed on the FUT 22 transfer market, but their range has been fixed to stop the price of these items rising. Before these items were suspended from FUT 22, Overmars had three FUT 22 Icon items, one being 86-rated (Base), one being 88-rated (mid) and another being 90-rated (prime).
Following his departure from Ajax, the club's official website released a statement from Overmars.
"I am ashamed," Said Overmars in the statement.
"Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour. And how this has come across to others. Unfortunately, I didn't realise that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days.
"I suddenly felt enormous pressure. I apologise. Certainly for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable.
"I now see that too. But it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax. This also has a major impact on my private situation. That is why I ask everyone to leave me and my family alone."
Overmars' former Dutch teammate Edwin Van der Sar, who also had FUT Icon items in FIFA 22, said: "I find the situation appalling for everyone and I agree with Leen Meijaard's words.
"In my role, I also feel responsible to help colleagues. A safe working climate is very important for everyone at Ajax.
"We will pay even more attention to this in the near future. Marc and I have been playing together since the early 1990s, first at Ajax and then with the national team and we have been colleagues in the management of Ajax for almost ten years now.
"That has now come to a very abrupt end. We are working on something very wonderful here at Ajax, so this news will also be a blow to everyone who cares about Ajax."
