Sunday 10 / August / 2025
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah criticized European football's governing body UEFA over its tribute to former Palestinian international Suleiman al-Obeid.
The Egyptian star, who is one of the best-known Arab soccer players in the world, on Saturday highlighted how UEFA's post on X did not say how al-Obeid died.
According to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), al-Obeid was shot by Israeli forces while civilians were waiting for aid in the southern Gaza Strip.
What did UEFA say about Suleiman al-Obeid?
In a message on X, UEFA called Obeid "a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times."
"He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering," the statement read. "His death is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who recognises the power of sport to unite people.”
What did Mo Salah say?
In a reply to that post, Salah asked : "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
The Egyptian striker, one of the English Premier League's biggest stars, has repeatedly called for increased humanitarian access into Gaza.
In October 2023, shortly after the war began, Salah urged "world leaders to come together" to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza to "prevent further slaughter of innocent souls."
How did Suleiman al-Obeid die?
The PFA said the 41-year-old Obeid was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces attacked a group of civilians gathered for humanitarian aid distribution in southern Gaza.
Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married with five children and played 24 international matches for Palestine. He was known as the Palestinian Pele, after the Brazilian footballer considered by many to be the best of all time.
Obeid earned 24 caps for the Palestinian national team and scored twice — including a dazzling scissors kick goal against Yemen in the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship
UEFA lists team Palestine, recognized as a national team in 1998, at 129th in its world rankings.
What have football figures said about Gaza before?
Salah is not the only Premier League personality to talk publicly about Gaza. In June, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave an emotional speech while being honored by the University of Manchester.
The 54-year-old said in excerpts shared on social media: "It's so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body."
He added: "Let me be clear, it's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbor."
In late 2023, Bundesliga club Mainz dismissed Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi, now playing for Welsh side Cardiff City, over social media posts related to the conflict. A court later ruled that comments did not warrant the immediate halting of his working relationship with the club.
The PFA says 325 people in the Palestinian football community have died in the conflict since October 2023.
