I have read that's a mistake from EA-Games, from version 1.31.
Or to be more spec. If you try to connect on multi-player, the game can crash with out error message to the desctop.
Hopefully it will be fixed in the 1.32 patch or later...
Yes it's the same if you are using the original CD.
So it's a bug! But maybe that's wasen't the information you want it...
well well I've said it now..