Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has openly criticised UEFA’s recent tribute to Suleiman Al Obeid, a former Palestinian footballer, after the European football body failed to mention the cause of his death. Al Obeid, widely known as the “Palestinian Pele,” was killed in an Israeli airstrike while civilians were reportedly waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza’s southern region on Wednesday.
Al Obeid, 41, had once represented Palestine’s national football team and was regarded as a symbol of hope and resilience for aspiring young athletes in Gaza. On the social media platform X, UEFA shared a brief post mourning his death, calling him “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.” However, the post did not specify how or where he died—an omission that drew sharp criticism from Salah.
The Egyptian forward, one of the Premier League’s most prominent players, responded publicly: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” His pointed question underscored growing frustrations among many who feel that global institutions are failing to address the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict.
325 Members of Palestinian Football Community Killed Since October
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) confirmed that Al Obeid was among dozens of civilians killed by an Israeli airstrike while waiting for food and aid. The association also shared a statement attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who praised Al Obeid for his contributions to football in Gaza: “He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering.” Ceferin added that Al Obeid’s death is “a great loss to the world of football.”
According to the PFA, at least 325 footballers, coaches, referees, administrators, and club officials in the Palestinian football community have died in the Israeli-Hamas conflict since October 2023.
The United Nations has described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic, with widespread destruction, mass displacement of the 2.3 million population, and severe shortages of food and basic necessities.
UEFA has not yet issued a formal response to Salah’s remarks.
