Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has criticised the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for issuing what he described as an incomplete tribute to late Palestinian football icon Suleiman Al-Obeid, who was killed in Gaza.
Al-Obeid, nicknamed the “Palestinian Pelé,” was a former national team striker credited with scoring over 100 goals in his career.
The 41-year-old was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza while civilians were reportedly waiting for aid, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA).
UEFA posted a short message on social media mourning Al-Obeid’s passing but did not reference how he died. Salah, one of the most influential Arab athletes globally, publicly challenged the omission, prompting widespread attention and garnering hundreds of thousands of online reactions within hours.
Later, the PFA released a statement in Arabic claiming UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin had sent condolences, praising Al-Obeid’s ability to inspire hope in Gaza despite enduring hardship.
Salah has been a consistent voice calling for an end to the conflict, urging world leaders to halt civilian casualties and ensure the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
According to the PFA, at least 325 members of the Palestinian football community — including players, coaches, referees, and staff — have been killed since the war began on 7 October 2023.
The United Nations reports that more than 1,300 Palestinians have died while seeking food since late May, with over 800 of those deaths occurring near aid distribution points.
Palestine has been a FIFA-recognised football nation since 1998 and has competed in the last three Asian Cup tournaments, though it is yet to qualify for the World Cup.
