Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has publicly called out UEFA for what he described as a vague and incomplete tribute to late Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pelé.”
Al-Obeid, a former Palestinian national team player, was killed in southern Gaza by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for aid, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). He was 41 and had scored over 100 career goals.
On Saturday, UEFA posted on X:
“Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pelé’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
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Salah responded pointedly:
“Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
His reply drew over 840,000 likes within hours, fueling online debate.
UEFA has not expanded on its original post, though the PFA later shared what it said was a condolence message from UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, praising Al-Obeid’s talent and the hope he brought to Gaza’s youth.
Salah has been one of football’s most high-profile voices on the Gaza war, previously urging immediate humanitarian aid, an end to hostilities, and a stop to what he called “massacres.”
The PFA says 325 members of its football community — including players, coaches, referees, and staff — have been killed since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.
According to UN figures, more than 1,300 people have been killed by Israeli forces while seeking food since late May, with over 800 of those deaths occurring near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites.
Palestine, recognized by FIFA since 1998, has competed in the last three Asian Cup tournaments but has never qualified for the World Cup.
