EA_Barry I don't think that is what he means with 'manipulation in the game'. It shouldn't be that, when you push your directional button down to kick the ball out of play, the player gives a diagonal pass to a team mate instead of kicking it over the side line. It shouldn't be that when you hold the throughpass button, the ball stops half way between the sender and the receiving player. Or flies totally out of reach of the receiving player when you just tap the button. It shouldn't be that, when switching players is set to manual, the game still decides to change player by itself in the middle of an opposing attack. Or refuses to do so when trying to defend a corner.
There is so much manipulation in this game to 'try to help you', up to a point where you as a player are not in charge of the game anymore. All control is gone. Until 10 years ago, the game was far more intuitive and natural than what it is now. It felt so much more like playing a real football game.
But since you mention it: whether EA put it in there or not, there is definitely something in the game which gives more advantage to one player towards the other. Too many players have the same experiences regarding this and banning messengers will not make it go away