British actor and animal rights campaigner Peter Egan has condemned Morocco's decision to cull stray dogs in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal. In a statement, Egan described the killings as 'barbaric' and called on football authorities to intervene.
Moroccan authorities have reportedly been rounding up and euthanising stray dogs in major cities, including Casablanca and Marrakech, in an effort to 'clean up' the streets before the tournament. Local animal welfare groups claim that thousands of dogs have been killed using poisoned meat and other inhumane methods.
Egan, known for his roles in 'Downton Abbey' and 'The Good Life', said: 'It is utterly heartbreaking that these innocent animals are being slaughtered in the name of football. The World Cup should be a celebration of sport, not an excuse for mass killing.' He urged FIFA to include animal welfare clauses in host city contracts to prevent such culls in future.
The Moroccan government has denied the scale of the cull, insisting that it is only removing aggressive dogs and that most strays are being relocated to shelters. However, campaigners say the shelters are overcrowded and underfunded, and that many dogs are still being killed.
This is not the first time a World Cup host has faced criticism over stray dog culls. Ahead of the 2018 tournament in Russia, thousands of dogs were poisoned or shot, sparking global outrage. Similar concerns were raised before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
