FIFA urged to tackle Morocco's World Cup stray dog crisis

The upcoming World Cup will take place in six countries across three continents: Europe, Africa, and South America. Morocco is set to be one of the hosts, where, as animal rights defenders highlight, there is cruel treatment and killing of stray dogs.

Activists have reached out to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), questioning whether Morocco should serve as one of the hosts.

According to animal rights organizations, there are approximately 3 million stray dogs in Morocco. Activists point out that these animals are brutally killed as part of the country's "preparations" for the World Cup.

Dogs are given strychnine or shot to death. It often happens that the dogs shot die in agony. In this context, the International Animal Coalition warns FIFA against allowing Morocco to host matches during the championship.

Before a FIFA inspection, stray dogs were shot on the streets regardless of whether they were marked as vaccinated and neutered or spayed or not. According to animal rights organizations, this demonstrates that such cruel practices will not end until FIFA, as the organizer of the World Cup, applies pressure — the association warns.

First Russia, now Morocco. It seems that these cruel and senseless practices, intended theoretically to improve the country's image in the eyes of fans and FIFA officials, will not end until the federation decides to take at least partial responsibility for them — comments Anna Iżyńska, Communications Specialist at the Open Cages Association.

Soccer should not be associated in any way with beating and killing stray dogs — these are immoral actions and, as such, are against the FIFA Code of Ethics — she adds.