Salah slams UEFA tribute omitting cause of ‘Palestinian Pele’ death
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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah criticized UEFA for not stating, in a tribute, that former Palestine footballer Suleiman al-Obeid was killed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.
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The “Palestinian Pelé” Suleiman al-Obeid, pictured in the Gaza Strip in an undated photograph (Social media)
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has criticised UEFA for omitting key details in its tribute to former Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, who was killed in the Gaza Strip earlier this week.
The 41-year-old ex-international, nicknamed the “Palestinian Pele,” was martyred on Wednesday when Israeli forces “targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip,” the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said.
UEFA posted on X: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'.
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 8, 2025
A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times. pic.twitter.com/wGSXCq2ceo
Salah responded: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
Can you tell us how he died, where, and why? https://t.co/W7HCyVVtBE
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) August 9, 2025
A star is killed by 'Israel'
Born in Gaza City, al-Obeid was married with five children and represented Palestine in 24 international matches. He was a prominent figure in Palestinian football, known for inspiring young players in a region devastated by Israeli aggression.
Read next: Israeli crimes against Palestinian sports must be condemned: Euro-Med
The PFA said that since the start of the war on Gaza, 662 members of the sports and scouting community have been killed, including 321 from the football sector.
Salah, who last season was the Premier League’s top scorer, has previously used his platform to speak out on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In October 2023, he urged world leaders to facilitate aid access to the besieged territory to “prevent further slaughter of innocent souls.”
The Liverpool star is set to feature in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday, marking the traditional start of the English football season.
