Sharon Osbourne has broken her silence this Christmas – her first without husband Ozzy – to speak out against what campaigners are calling one of the world’s worst ongoing animal welfare crises: the killing of an estimated three million dogs in Morocco ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The television personality and lifelong animal lover has thrown her weight behind the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), condemning the intensified mass slaughter of free-roaming dogs in the lead-up to major international sporting events.
In a powerful statement, Osbourne issued a direct warning to Moroccan authorities and football’s global governing bodies:
“I am shocked and furious at what is happening to dogs in Morocco in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup. The mass killing of defenceless animals to ‘clean up’ for a sporting event is barbaric.
“These dogs are not a problem to be erased; they deserve compassion and protection. I am proud to stand with the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition in demanding an immediate end to the slaughter. I would like the people of Morocco to remember that the world is watching.”
Osbourne’s intervention comes just days after her grandson ‘Baby Sid’ – son of Kelly Osbourne and Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson – appeared as a mascot at Villa Park in Birmingham, where Ozzy’s final show was held earlier this year.
She joins a growing list of high-profile advocates condemning the killings, including the late Jane Goodall, Ricky Gervais, Peter Egan, and Dominic Dyer.
Campaigners say her statement comes at a critical moment. The IAWPC, a coalition of around 80 organisations including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PETA, has reported a sharp increase in dog killings in tournament host cities – Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Fes – linked to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicked off on 21 December.
Reports from the ground describe dogs being shot, poisoned, and forcibly removed from streets and villages. Eyewitnesses say many never return, while children are being traumatised by the scenes.
Animal welfare groups fear that AFCON is being used as a grim “test run” for the 2030 World Cup – echoing patterns seen before previous major global tournaments.
Evidence submitted to the IAWPC includes footage of night-time dog catching operations, overcrowded pounds, and the disappearance of familiar community dogs – some disabled – that had peacefully coexisted with local residents.
IAWPC Chairman Les Ward MBE thanked Osbourne for speaking out during what is clearly a deeply personal and emotional time:
“Sharon’s support means an enormous amount to this campaign. At a time when she could understandably step back from public life, she has chosen instead to speak up for animals who have no voice.
“The killings we are witnessing around AFCON are deeply alarming and reinforce our fears about what lies ahead as Morocco prepares for the World Cup.”
Ward stressed that the current approach is not humane population management – but a systematic mass killing driven by image management:
“We are talking about millions of dogs, sentient beings, being wiped out to create a false impression of ‘clean’ host cities.”
In response, the IAWPC has worked with legal, veterinary and animal welfare experts to redraft Morocco’s proposed Draft Law 19.25 – originally rushed through in July 2025 – into a modern animal welfare bill that aligns with international standards.
The redrafted legislation, now submitted to Moroccan authorities via FIFA, focuses on sustainable, humane population control through Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) schemes, disease prevention, community education, and enforcement. These are the methods endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health, while the World Health Organisation explicitly advises against mass culling as a method of rabies control.
Early discussions have also begun between the IAWPC and FIFA on the development of a FIFA-backed humane education and CNVR programme across all six 2030 World Cup stadium cities. While still in its infancy, the IAWPC says FIFA has shown a positive willingness to collaborate.
“This is the moment for Morocco to choose compassion over cruelty,” Ward added.
“With global eyes on the country, the World Cup should be an opportunity to showcase humane leadership – not a legacy of bloodshed.”
To find out more about the IAWPC, visit www.iawpc.org.