Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has questioned UEFA’s tribute to late Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, demanding transparency about how he died amid the Gaza conflict.
Zig Diaries Sports
Date: Saturday, 9 August 2025
Time: 20:15 WAT
Mohamed Salah publicly challenges UEFA’s vague tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid, calling for explicit acknowledgment of the circumstances of the footballer’s death in Gaza.
Suleiman al-Obeid, famously known as the “Palestinian Pele,” was killed while civilians awaited humanitarian aid in southern Gaza after Israeli forces opened fire, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) confirmed. His death raises the number of footballers killed or starved in Gaza since the conflict’s escalation to at least 421, including 103 children.
UEFA posted a tribute on social media calling al-Obeid “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times,” but notably omitted mention of how or where he died. This silence provoked widespread backlash, with over 9,000 replies and millions of views criticizing the governing body’s failure to address the violent circumstances.
On Saturday, Mohamed Salah echoed the outcry, quoting UEFA’s post on X (formerly Twitter) and adding: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” His intervention was further amplified by former BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who shared Salah’s post with the comment: “We can’t hear you UEFA.”
Salah, who initially faced criticism for not speaking out earlier during the Gaza war, has since been vocal about the humanitarian crisis. He condemned the violence and called for world leaders to unite to stop further loss of innocent lives. He has also made significant financial contributions to aid efforts in Gaza.
Obeid, 41, was a celebrated midfielder who played 24 international matches for Palestine and was known for scoring over 100 goals in his career. He played for the Khadamat Al-Shati club in Gaza and the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank, regions affected by ongoing Israeli occupation and restrictions.
Born in Gaza City, al-Obeid is survived by his wife and five children. His death highlights the devastating human toll of the conflict, which has claimed over 61,000 lives in Gaza since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, with over 1,300 Palestinians reportedly killed while seeking food aid since May.
The Palestine Football Association continues to document the loss of sportspeople in the conflict, underscoring the war’s profound impact beyond the battlefield.
Fact-check & Background Context:
Suleiman al-Obeid was killed during an Israeli military attack targeting civilians waiting for aid, according to PFA. The Gaza war’s civilian death toll and humanitarian suffering have drawn global condemnation. Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s captain and Liverpool forward, has used his platform to highlight the crisis. UEFA’s non-specific tribute sparked backlash for failing to directly acknowledge the violent cause of al-Obeid’s death.
🏷️ Tags: Mohamed Salah, UEFA, Suleiman al-Obeid, Gaza Conflict, Palestinian Football, Humanitarian Crisis, Liverpool FC
#MohamedSalah #UEFA #PalestinianPele #GazaCrisis #FootballForPeace #LiverpoolFC
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