Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has publicly criticized the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) over its tribute to late Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, which omitted the details of his death in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military.
Salah reposted UEFA’s message on the platform X, formerly Twitter, and added a pointed question:
“Can you tell us how, where, and why he died?”
Suleiman Al-Obeid, widely known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” was a former star of the Palestinian national team. He was killed at age 41 on Wednesday, when, according to the Palestinian Football Association, Israeli forces opened fire on civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza.
UEFA had posted a tribute on X stating:
“Farewell to Suleiman Al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pelé. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
Salah’s comment highlighted growing frustration among supporters and human rights advocates over what they see as sanitized or incomplete acknowledgments of the war’s human toll, particularly from international institutions like UEFA.
The Palestinian Football Association confirmed that Al-Obeid was killed as a result of Israeli military action and described him as one of Palestine’s most iconic football figures.
The incident has sparked further calls for sports organizations to take stronger stances on human rights and to address conflicts with transparency and moral clarity.
