American artist Robert Wyland, known mononymously as Wyland, has filed a $25 million lawsuit against FIFA and other defendants, alleging they illegally painted over his life-sized whale mural on a building in downtown Dallas to promote the city's 2026 World Cup matches.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Dallas, claims that World Cup organizers, the building's owner, and management company violated the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, a federal law protecting publicly displayed artworks from destruction without the artist's consent.

Wyland's mural, titled 'Whaling Wall 82,' covered approximately 17,000 square feet across two walls and was completed in 1999. It was part of a series of over 100 'Whaling Walls' worldwide advocating for ocean conservation.

The local World Cup organizing committee stated that a new artwork would replace the mural, 'capturing this current historical moment and reflecting the energy, unity, and global spirit surrounding the World Cup 2026,' with a portion of Wyland's work preserved.

A FIFA spokesperson denied any involvement, while building manager Slate Asset Management claimed local organizers assured them Wyland had been notified—a claim the artist disputes. Dallas will host nine World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium. An online petition against the mural's destruction has garnered over 2,600 signatures.

Source: www.aljazeera.com