EA Sports and Sheffield FC post ‘FOAT Code’ for online play in FIFA

EA Sports is leaning on Sheffield FC — the oldest football club still playing today — and its 163rd birthday on Sunday to lay down a code of polite conduct for FIFA22’s online matches.

Sheffield is a good vessel for “The FOAT Code” (First of All Time) because the club developed the Sheffield Rules, the first set of rules published (in 1859) by a football club. Today’s soccer (association football) goes by the Laws of the Game, a title that sounds like it should be spoken from Castle Grayskull’s jawbridge.

However, you can still follow the FOAT Code.

• It’s not rage-quit.
• Not replay every goal (unless it’s really worth it).
• Not celebrate “every sweaty goal.”
• Do not waste time.

The code is, basically, unenforceable, which is why EA Sports and Sheffield FC are appealing to fans’ love of the game and its history, in hopes they willingly abide by certain norms.

EA Canada developed a number of goals celebrations in last year’s game. These were meant to be used as a way to waste time or antagonize other players. A goal can be triggered by the scorer, and the replay will play on TV. The other player must also watch the replay. However, the game recently introduced an option to show your manager or your players reacting if you surrender the goal, instead of seeing your opponent’s taunting celebration.

Pausing the game, however, there’s very little that can be done about that except limit the pauses to 30 seconds. This prerogative could be used to the death, even if it is. There are sanctions for rage-quitting in Football Ultimate Team (loss of FUT Coin payouts, threats of future penalties) but they don’t seem to curb this behavior.

If there isn’t much of a stick for poor behavior, EA Sports is still offering a carrot: Sheffield FC’s original 1857 kit — long sleeves, collars, and all — for completing three FUT objectives. These are:

• Five matches can be played in FUT modes. You may start five English players in your team.
• You can assist three goals with a player from England in any FUT game mode.
• In any FUT mode, win a match with two goals or more.

In the meantime, Happy Birthday to Sheffield FC, also known as The Club and recipients of 2004 FIFA Order of Merit. They compete in the “Rules derby” against Hallam FC, which is the oldest fixture in the world (dating to 1860 and originally contested under the Sheffield Rules). If you want to know more about the Sheffield Rules and how they differ from modern football, here’s a delightful Wikipedia rabbit hole to fall down.