EA Sports FC 25 Rivals Mode Feels Unfair and Scripted
In EA Sports FC 25 Ultimate Team mode, I am experiencing a seriously unfair and frustrating gameplay experience in Rivals matches on PlayStation. After winning a few matches with different scores when I first started, I began to clearly feel that the system was working against me.
First of all, the rules of football seem to change from match to match and depending on the player. While many aggressive tackles by my opponents are not even called as fouls, similar situations immediately result in fouls against my players. I have also experienced clear penalty situations where my opponent did not touch the ball but fouled me inside the box, yet no penalty was awarded. This shows that the rules are not being applied consistently.
The “momentum” system also seems to heavily favor my opponents. Balanced matchmaking is almost nonexistent, as most of the opponents I face have extremely strong squads. Even when I manage to gain control of the game, strange things start happening. For example, when I attempt a sliding tackle, my player sometimes turns 180 degrees unnaturally, causing the ball to move toward my own goal and giving the opponent an advantage. These situations are not rare—they happen frequently.
From my opponents’ gameplay, it is clear that many of them do not have high skill levels, but they likely have strong squads built through heavy spending. This creates the impression that players who do not spend money are intentionally placed at a disadvantage. It feels like simply purchasing the game is not enough, and players who do not spend extra are penalized by the system.
I did not receive this game for free—I paid for it, and as a customer, I expect a fair and balanced experience where the rules are applied equally to all players. My expectation, on behalf of myself and other players, is that football rules are enforced consistently, and that the momentum and matchmaking systems are adjusted to eliminate any advantage based on spending. I also expect a transparent and satisfactory explanation from EA regarding these issues.
