Morocco World Cup, Stray Dogs and FIFA’s Animal Welfare Controversy

Animal protection organizations accuse the Kingdom of wanting to “clean up” its streets by massively eliminating stray dogs before the tournament co-hosted with Spain and Portugal. American actor Mark Ruffalo amplified the outrage by calling these allegations a “moral failure” and urging compassion over violence.

On Bladi.net : This photo of the "dog massacre" in Morocco for the 2030 World Cup is false

Although the Moroccan Embassy in London firmly denies any extermination campaign, the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC) maintains that killings have “increased dramatically” since the candidacy was officially announced. The organization cites radical methods, ranging from strychnine poisoning to shooting animals in public spaces.

FIFA Forced to Intervene on Ethical Grounds

Reports describe unbearable scenes, mentioning the existence of “killing centers” on the outskirts of tourist areas such as Marrakech. Faced with media pressure, FIFA confirmed that it is working with NGOs to submit strict recommendations to local authorities.

On Bladi.net : article 95852

The governing body now says it is conducting rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards. At the same time, Morocco’s legislative framework remains ambiguous: a bill proposes punishing animal cruelty while paradoxically also providing penalties for citizens who feed stray animals.