Famous primatologist and UN Peace Ambassador Jane Goodall addressed the leadership of FIFA with an alarming warning: in preparation for the World Cup, the Moroccan authorities could destroy up to three million stray dogs. This is reported by daily.afisha.ru with reference to the Daily Mail.
According to animal protection organizations, the country has already begun the mass extermination of stray animals. Dogs are shot on the streets, poisoned and sent to special institutions for destruction. Activists have launched a campaign to collect signatures, demanding an end to cruelty to animals.
The International Animal Welfare Coalition notes a sharp increase in the rate of destruction of stray dogs after Morocco was chosen as the host country of the championship. If previously about 300 thousand animals were exterminated annually, now these numbers have increased significantly. According to animal rights activists, authorities are trying to “clean up” cities to attract tourists.
In her letter to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, Jane Goodall expressed deep concern about the continued slaughter of dogs, despite the official announcement by the Moroccan authorities in August 2024 that the campaign would cease. She emphasized that FIFA received detailed documentation of cruel methods of killing animals, but did not respond to this evidence.
Goodall warned FIFA of possible damage to the organization's reputation if it does not intervene in the situation. She recalled the numerous dog lovers among football fans and proposed a radical solution - to suspend the tournament in Morocco until the extermination of stray animals is completely stopped.
