FIFA sued for $25 million.

VHO - An eight-story-tall mural, once a cultural icon of Dallas, has been painted over to make way for the 2026 World Cup. This decision not only puts FIFA at risk of a $25 million lawsuit but also sparks debate about preserving public art during major sporting events.

The "Whaling Wall 82" mural in downtown Dallas is being repainted in preparation for activities leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup hasn't even started yet, but FIFA is already embroiled in an off-field controversy.

Renowned environmental artist Wyland has filed a lawsuit in Texas federal court, seeking $25 million in damages after his iconic mural in downtown Dallas was painted over to promote the world's biggest soccer event.

According to the lawsuit, the Ocean Life mural , also known as Whaling Wall 82 , was largely covered in blue paint by groups of workers during May.

By May 18th, most of the artwork had disappeared from the wall where it had stood for over a quarter of a century.

Wyland is one of America's most renowned environmental artists. He created this painting in 1999 as part of a project involving 100 public artworks around the world to raise awareness about ocean pollution and marine conservation.

The artwork recreates an ocean environment with abundant marine life, becoming a familiar highlight in the Dallas urban landscape for many years.

In the lawsuit, Wyland's lawyers called it a "cultural landmark of the city," and argued that removing the artwork caused harm not only to the artist but also to the local community.

The lawsuit is not only about the $25 million in damages but also concerns the right to protection of public works of art. Wyland argues that painting over the artwork violated U.S. federal law regarding artists' rights to works of art that are recognized as artistic.

According to this regulation, such works cannot be destroyed without the author's written consent. Wyland maintains that he has never signed any document relinquishing his rights.

“Artists bring beauty, identity, and economic value to cities. Their rights deserve to be protected as fundamental values ​​of urban life,” emphasized Andrea Perez, one of the lawyers representing Wyland.

Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup North Texas Organizing Committee explained that the painting was replaced with a new work intended to “celebrate and create excitement for the 2026 World Cup.”

The artwork "Ocean Life" (Whaling Wall 82), created by artist Wyland in 1999, was once a public art icon of the city of Dallas.

FIFA again denied direct responsibility, stating that all related issues fell under the jurisdiction of the local organizing committee.

On May 15th, while the mural was being painted over, Wyland posted on Instagram that FIFA had destroyed one of his most beautiful and famous murals.

A few days later, the artist sent letters requesting an end to the infringement to the relevant parties before officially filing a lawsuit.

Nevertheless, the public reaction shows that the incident has gone far beyond the scope of a typical legal dispute. Many Dallas residents expressed regret at the disappearance of a familiar art icon.

Texas singer Kacey Musgraves also spoke out against the removal, saying that society was "draining the soul from everything" by witnessing the painting being erased.

An online petition calling for the construction of a new site to recreate the artwork quickly garnered over 2,600 signatures.

The incident in Dallas reflects the growing challenges facing cities that host world-class sporting events. In the process of renovating their urban landscapes for promotional campaigns, many local cultural values ​​and public art installations are at risk of being replaced or disappearing.

As the city hosting the most matches at the 2026 World Cup with nine games, including a semi-final, Dallas is rushing to prepare for the biggest football event on the planet.

However, Wyland's lawsuit shows that, in addition to the economic and image-boosting benefits of the World Cup, the preservation of public works of art is also becoming a topic of great public interest.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/fifa-bi-kien-25-trieu-usd-233926.html