Photo : fifa.com
NIAS Europe Daily Brief #15, 19 October 2021, Tuesday
IN FOCUS
By Padmashree Anandhan
The tussle for a goal: FIFA versus EA
Recently, EA (Electronic Arts) Sports announced that it was considering changing the name of FIFA, its famous soccer series. This has created confusion in the region as this involves a change in the game series and the gamers; creating a ripple economic effect. Being the home of football, the revenue generated from FIFA has been essential to Europe. The FIFA-EA split would imply prospects for other market competitors.
Genesis of the split
FIFA is an international governing body of association football headquartered in Switzerland while EA Sports is a division within the EA (Electronic Arts), an American company that deals with creating and publishing sport video games. Both signed a deal in 1993. In exchange for the licensed name “FIFA”, the EA group agreed to develop a best-selling video game franchise. After decades of partnership, the parties decide to split ways due to various factors. While FIFA has called in for new developers and investors to fund its innovations and is trying to increase the occurrence of the World Cup to every two years; the EA company has already registered two trademarks in the EU and Britain in the name of “EA Sports FC.”
FIFA versus EA Sports
The interests of FIFA and EA conflict in three areas. One, the vision of both parties seems to vary. FIFA aims to venture more into the esports market while EA wants it to go global, expanding itself into arena video game tournaments and digital products like non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Two, in terms of control; EA has utilized its FIFA license in entering agreements with other organizations like UEFA, the English Premier League, and other domestic play-offs, but FIFA, being a major income generator has had to oblige to the single party rules. FIFA has for decades been a licenser for EA Sports; it intends to innovate more along with new developers like Fortnite to step in for its growth in the esports market. Three, the financial hitch. As the duo’s game launch has only crossed an income of USD 20 billion in the last two decades, the license agreements are now affordable at just USD 150 million per year.
What does this mean for Europe?
The FIFA-EU partnership played a major role in Europe - as much to the footballers as it did to the video gamers. A split in this legendary partnership points to three outcomes. One, the outsourcing for new developers and investors via the FIFA esports venture implies more investment, innovation, and regional competition. Two, the EA expanded its licensing horizons beyond the EU and the UK to diversify its revenue growth. And third, the increasing significance of video gamers’ population which factors into the determination of European revenue flow.
References
Tariq Panja, “EA Sports Is Planning for a FIFA Without FIFA,” The New York Times, 13 October 2021
“Will Fifa 22 be EA Sports' last Fifa game called Fifa? - CBBC Newsround,” BBC, 15 October 2021
“EA Sports is planning for a Fifa without Fifa, as football association ups asking price to US$1b,” The Straits Times,17 October 2021
IN BRIEF
By Joeana Cera Matthews and Vaishnavi Iyer
FRANCE
Following clerical child sex abuse reports, Prime Minister meets the Pope
The French Prime Minister Jean Castex met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The meeting involved an unusual gift - a signed Messi jersey that the PM gifted to the Pope along with an 1836 edition of “Notre Dame de Paris.” The Pope accepted the gift, marking good relations between France and the Holy See. The gifts were followed by a private 35-minute talk at the Vatican. The trip was made following the devastating report of child abuse in the French Catholic Church. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is also set to join the meeting. Reacting to the findings of the report, the Pope commented: “my shame, our shame.” Battling clerical abuse has been prioritized by the papacy. The battle intensified when Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the head of the Bishops' Conference of France, noted that priests were not liable to report any confessions of sexual abuse. While the confession is “the strictest bond of the sacramental seal,” the Vatican guidelines updated last year, require priests and clerics to report abuse. Moreover, the French legislation recognizes confidentiality but also requires reporting abuse in criminal cases against minors. (“French PM meets Pope Francis after devastating clerical child sex abuse report,” France24, 19 October 2021)
France commemorates one year of Samuel Paty’s assassination
On 16 October, France paid tribute to Samuel Paty. A 47-year-old middle-school teacher, Samuel Paty, was beheaded after being stabbed on 16 October, 2020. As a homage to him, French leaders unveiled a plaque at the Education Ministry and renamed a square opposite Sorbonne University in Paris’ Latin Quarter. Prime Minister Jean Castex remarked: “Here is a man who wanted to do his job, a demanding and sometimes thankless job, a man who only aspired to transmit the values of freedom, secularism, tolerance, free will.” Other memorials took place in his hometown and Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, where he taught; a statue and a mural were installed respectively. Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, while speaking at a school, said: “We will not forget Samuel Paty.” Paty was attacked by an 18-year-old Chechen extremist Abdullakh Anzorov who claimed to be taking revenge on Paty. The crime was committed after Paty used cartoons of Prophet Muhammad to teach about free speech. Anzorov was later shot dead by French security services. The investigation into Paty’s death still remains open. (“France marks 1 year since the assassination of Samuel Paty,” Deutsche Welle, 16 October 2021)
NORWAY
Authorities allege stabbing as the cause of death in bow-and-arrow probe
The Norway bow-and-arrow attack’s continuing probe suggests that the victims were “stabbed to death” and not shot with arrows. The attack which killed five people and injured several led to an initial four-week custody of Espen Andersen Bråthen. Further, Bråthen was to undergo a psychiatric evaluation upon police orders. Based on the updates, the attacker discarded his weapons. About six days later, Inspector Omholt stated that other weapons were present at the time of the attack, which the assailant denies. The probe now suggests that the attacks were made using “stabbing weapons” and the attacker eventually ran out of arrows. Reports suggest a “double-digit” number of people being attacked with arrows at random, however, the victims have wounds different from that of an arrow attack. The attack was the worst preceded by the Brevik attack killing 77 people, mostly teenagers at a youth camp. (“Norway attack victims stabbed not shot with arrows, say police,” The Guardian, 18 October 2021; “Deaths in Norway attack came from stab wounds, not bow and arrow, police say,” Reuters, 18 October 2021)
RUSSIA
Russia suspends its NATO mission
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suspended the Russian mission to NATO. The announcement came in response to the expulsion of eight Russian staff members from NATO’s military alliance mission. The staff expelled by NATO were deemed “undeclared Russian intelligence officers.” Out of the 16 Russian staff present, NATO allowed half the team to work. Lavrov stated the response was a result of “deliberate moves” by NATO to dismantle “conditions for elementary diplomatic work.” Adding to the suspension, he mentioned the mission would withdraw accreditation from 01 November. He suggested NATO contact the Russian embassy in Brussels. A NATO spokesperson acknowledged the media comments made by Lavrov but mentioned the absence of official communication on “the issues raised.” (“Russia suspends its mission to NATO,” Deutsche Welle, 18 October 2021)
SPACE
Russia: Filmmakers return after 12 days of shooting in space
On 17 October, Russia’s Soyuz space capsule returned to earth with a film crew post-shooting the first ever movie in space. The actors landed in Kazakhstan after leaving the International Space Station (ISS). The film called ‘Challenge’ was interrupted mid-filming when the thrusters glitched causing a tilt in the ISS, making them go off script. On returning, one of the actors commented on state television: “I’m feeling a bit sad today. It seemed that 12 days would be a lot, but I did not want to leave when everything was over.” Apparently, the movie is rumoured to be in a ‘space race’ alongside a Tom Cruise-starrer Hollywood movie that involves filming-in-space backed by Nasa and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Seven astronauts continue on-board the space station. (“Russian actor returns to Earth after shooting first movie in space,” BBC, 17 October 2021; “Russian team back on Earth after filming first movie in space,” BBC, 17 October 2021; “Russian filmmakers land back on Earth after 12-day shoot on ISS,” France24, 17 October 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
Greece: Beijing 2022 Winter Games begin despite protests
On 17 October, the initial ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games took place despite garnering a lot of opposition and dissent. Human rights protesters called out the Games being hosted by China owing to its track record regarding the Uyghur community, Hong Kong, and Tibet. Four demonstrators, identified as Tibetans, were taken into custody by the police; any disturbance to the ceremony was, thus, averted. In a separate event, three activists who disrupted the ceremony were arrested and will be presented in court on 18 October. The initial ceremony includes lighting the flame in ancient Olympia. Due to the pandemic guidelines, only a few guests witnessed the ceremony. The official handover of the Games will occur at Panathenaic Stadium on 18 October wherein the first Olympic Games happened in 1896. The Winter Games are scheduled to take place in Beijing from 4 to 20 February 2022. Rights groups along with US lawmakers have been requesting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for relocating the Games from China. (“Beijing Winter Games flame lit in Greece amid protests,” Deutsche Welle, 18 October 2021; Nektaria Stamouli, “https://www.politico.eu/article/greek-police-arrest-activists-olympic-ceremony-disruption-beijing-tibet-protest/,” POLITICO, 18 October 2021; “Beijing 2022: Protest staged at Winter Olympics torch lighting,” BBC, 18 October 2021)