French singer and musician David Hallyday has made an urgent appeal to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), voicing his concerns over what he describes as the «cruel culling of stray dogs» in Morocco, in the lead-up to the 2030 World Cup, which the country is co-hosting alongside Spain and Portugal. In a letter shared by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Hallyday, son of the legendary Johnny Hallyday, addresses FIFA's president, condemning the «animal cruelty» that he claims «breaches Morocco's pledge to FIFA to protect animals». In his letter, the artist calls on Gianni Infantino to «pressure Morocco to halt the dog culling, or suspend its co-hosting status». He highlights that Morocco's World Cup bid included commitments to «safeguard animal rights» and «establish clinics and support initiatives for stray dogs». However, Hallyday argues that the kingdom is «failing to meet these promises, putting three million homeless dogs at risk of being poisoned, shot, or burned alive». «The thought that dogs like my own, Phoenix and Cooper, are forced to fight for survival on the streets, having done nothing wrong, only to be brutally killed by humans, fills me with profound sadness and anger», writes David Hallyday. He urges FIFA to «condemn these actions» and «enforce suitable sanctions».
