Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image/Michael Regan - FIFA/Getty
Topics: Animals, Football, Sport, World News
Emily Brown
Topics: Animals, Football, Sport, World News
Warning: This article contains discussion of animal abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Animal rights activists are urging FIFA to take action as they claim as many as three million dogs will be executed in Morocco ahead of the 2030 World Cup tournament.
The next World Cup won't take place until next year, when soccer teams from across the globe go head-to-head in three North American countries, but Morocco has already started preparing to host the event in five years' time.
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Part of those preparations allegedly includes removing stray dogs from the streets; a process which animal rights activists claim is being done in the form of a 'cull'.
Previous claims made to FIFA from Morocco alleged that the killings ceased in August 2024, Pets Mag, reports however conservationist and activist Dr. Jane Goodall has teamed up with the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition’s (IAWPC) to take a stand as the alleged killings have been found to still be ongoing.
Dr. Goodall shared her concerns in an open letter to FIFA’s Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, saying: “I was absolutely appalled to see that Moroccan authorities are engaging in large-scale killings of street dogs to make World Cup venues more ‘presentable’ to foreign visitors. Football fans, many of whom are animal lovers, will undoubtedly react with calls to boycott the country and pressure sponsors like Qatar Airways to withdraw.”
Dr. Goodall warned FIFA that the actions could damage its reputation, saying: “If you fail to act, FIFA will be known for its complicity in an horrific act of barbarity – on your watch.”
The activist has called on FIFA to suspend Morocco's rights to host the tournament until the alleged killings are stopped, while Les Ward, president of the IAWPC, encouraged the association to 'urgently intervene'.
"Mandatory conditions must be placed on Morocco to protect street and owned dogs, and a humane management programme introduced. Failure to act should result in Morocco losing its co-host status," Ward said.
The IAWPC has also paid tribute to animals that it says have already died as a result of the killings.
In a post shared to its Instagram page, the coalition wrote: "Today we honor the Moroccan dogs who suffered and died as a result of brutal killings.
"Please join us in celebrating their lives and mourning their tragic deaths. Bring a real or electric candle to light in honor of the dogs who died. Share their names and stories during the ceremony. We are so sorry for your loss as we grieve with our global community of animal rights activists."
UNILAD has reached out to FIFA for comment.