Mohamed Salah Slams UEFA for Silence on Palestinian Star’s Death
This week, the football world was shaken by the death of Suleiman al-Obeid, a man celebrated as the “Palestinian Pelé.” His life was cut short last Wednesday in southern Gaza, when, according to the Palestinian Football Association, Israeli forces attacked a crowd of civilians waiting for humanitarian aid. He was 41 years old.
UEFA paid tribute to him in a post on X, calling him “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.” But their message made no mention of how he died. That omission didn’t go unnoticed. Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah publicly responded: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” His pointed question was seen as a challenge to UEFA’s choice to honor al-Obeid without acknowledging the violent circumstances of his death.
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Al-Obeid’s football legacy was remarkable. After making his debut for the Palestinian national team in 2007, he went on to earn 24 caps and score two international goals. One of them — a spectacular scissor-kick against Yemen in the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship — remains etched in fans’ memories. Over his career, he scored more than 100 goals across club and national play, becoming one of Palestinian football’s brightest lights. He was a fixture at Khadamat al-Shati in Gaza before moving to Al-Amari Youth Center in the West Bank.
His death adds to a devastating statistic. Since the war began in October 2023, at least 662 athletes and their relatives have been reported killed in Gaza, with 421 of those being footballers — including children. Sports infrastructure has been decimated as well, with nearly 300 facilities damaged or destroyed, the vast majority in Gaza. Even the Palestinian Football Association’s headquarters was hit in an air raid.
The attack that claimed al-Obeid’s life took place near an aid distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. These locations have become deadly flashpoints — more than 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly been killed at or near such sites since late May. Hunger is worsening too, with the Ministry of Health in Gaza recording nearly 200 famine-related deaths, almost half of them children.
To many, Suleiman al-Obeid was more than a footballer. He was a source of joy and pride for Palestinians, a symbol of talent flourishing despite hardship. His career inspired young players across Gaza and the West Bank, and his nickname — “the Palestinian Pelé” — spoke to the respect he commanded on the pitch. Now, his passing has become another chapter in a long list of losses, both personal and collective, that the world of football and the people of Gaza are mourning.
Mohamed Salah’s call-out to UEFA has reignited debate about whether tributes to victims of conflict can truly honor them without also acknowledging the realities of how they died. For many, al-Obeid’s story deserves to be told in full — not only for his goals, but for the circumstances that ended his life.
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