Salah Slams UEFA Over Gaza Footballer Tribute
Football Star Questions Governing Body’s Silence on Death Circumstances
Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah, has publicly challenged UEFA’s commemoration of the late Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, criticizing the European governing body for omitting the details of his death.
Tragic End for “Palestinian Pele”
The 41-year-old **Suleiman Al-Obeid**, widely known as the “Palestinian Pele,” was reportedly killed by an Israeli strike on civilians awaiting humanitarian aid in southern Gaza on Wednesday. The Palestine Football Association confirmed the tragic incident.
Can you tell us how he died, where, and why? https://t.co/W7HCyVVtBE
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) August 9, 2025
UEFA’s initial tribute on social media platform X described **Al-Obeid** as “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.” **Salah** directly questioned this by posting, Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?
UEFA had not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters. **Mohamed Salah**, a prominent voice among Premier League players, has consistently advocated for humanitarian aid access to Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.
Aid Site Violence Concerns Mount
Recent reports indicate a disturbing trend of violence around aid distribution points. The United Nations has documented over 1,000 fatalities near aid convoys and distribution sites in Gaza since late May, following the implementation of a US- and Israel-backed aid distribution system. According to the World Health Organization, the current malnutrition rate among children under five in Gaza’s northern governorates is alarmingly high, with nearly 70% suffering from acute malnutrition as of April 2024 (WHO, May 2024).
