Hi. I have had problems with online play on the PS3. I am finding it increasingly harder to get an online match. I have tried numerous methods - quick ranked match, online lobbies, Fifa World Cup but seem to get Match No Longer Available or You Have Lost Connection Messages 10 to 20 times before I manage to get a game. It is not uncommon for me to try for over half an hour just to get an online match. it's starting to put me off playing online now which is a shame because usually it's the part of Fifa I enjoy the most. The only thing that doesn't seem effected are the online Be a Pro team games.

This problem became so frustrating for me that I ended up calling the EA helpline who told me the problem was something to do with having certain 'ports' open on my wireless network. They gave me some port reference numbers and told me to call my internet service provider. I called my ISP who didn't seem to know what I was on about and suggested I contact the manufacturer of my wireless router (Belkin). So I called Belkin and they also seemed baffled and told me to obtain the IS number of Playstation 3 - at which point I lost the will to live and gave up being highly confused.

So the problems remain. I love Fifa 09 but the problems I have experienced setting online games has spoilt the experience for me somewhat. Has anyone else experienced similar problems or can you help me out with any suggestions? EA can you help me out?

One other thing. When I do get a game I am still experiencing 'lost connection' messages from what appear to be other players bailing out of games when I am winning. I have considered the connection loss may be legitimate but during some games this seems just to convenient - examples: I'm 3-0 up, bang in a 4th and suddenly I've lost connection; or it's 1-1 with 5 mins to go, I score then again I've suddenly lost connection.

Conversely, I have also received 'You have lost connection with the EA Server' messages midway through an online match. I have never intentionally quit a match ever. I take my defeats on the chin and if a player beats me 10-0 then fair enough. I try and learn something from it. But I think as a result of these connection errors I have a DNF rating of 5% that is totally unjustified.

So does anyone have the definitive answer to how these lost connections effect your stats and why they happen in thr first place? If someone quits on you do you get the win? If you lose connection do you get a loss and an increase in your DNF % to boot? Does EA have any answers?

Cuggsy