Moroccan Activists Urge World Cup Fans to Boycott Puma Jersey Over Israel Ties

The new Puma jersey that the Atlas Lions will wear in Qatar is not unanimous. The BDS Morocco has, in a video, called on Moroccan fans to boycott it. "We love football, but we hate apartheid," it said, in support of Palestine. The BDS Morocco accuses the German equipment manufacturer of having the Israeli Football Federation (IFA) as a sponsor. "The current and former exclusive dealers of Puma in Israel operate in illegal Israeli settlements," the movement said in a statement.

Moroccan fans’ opinions are divided on the issue: some respond to the call for a boycott while others refuse to sacrifice "the pleasure of football" for political dilemmas. "I didn’t actually know that before I bought it. But to be honest, no brand is morally clean. I’m just trying to be happy here for my team and have a good atmosphere with my friends and family," said Ibrahim, 46.

"Honestly, I think this is an elitist conversation. Many unconditional Moroccan fans can’t afford the jersey, including me. We wear a counterfeit or just hold our national flag, which is what really represents us," said Yassine, a 23-year-old student.

In addition to Morocco, other teams participating in the 2022 Qatar World Cup such as Ghana, Serbia, Senegal, Switzerland and Uruguay are also dressed by Puma.