Gaza/Cairo, August 10, 2025: Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has criticised European football’s governing body, UEFA, for what he called a vague and incomplete statement on the death of former Palestinian national team striker Suleiman Al-Obeid, killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Al-Obeid, 41, known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” died when Israeli forces targeted civilians waiting for aid in southern Gaza, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). During his career, he scored more than 100 goals and was celebrated for inspiring young players despite the hardships of life under siege.
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.” The message made no mention of the circumstances of his death.
Salah, the Liverpool forward and one of the most prominent Arab athletes in the world, replied pointedly: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” His post quickly went viral, amassing over 840,000 likes within hours.
Later, the PFA released a statement in Arabic that it said was from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, expressing condolences and praising Al-Obeid’s “talent and dedication to the game” which gave “hope in a brighter tomorrow” to children in Gaza and beyond.
Salah, a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, has previously spoken out against the war in Gaza, calling for immediate humanitarian aid, an end to the “massacres,” and urging world leaders to stop the fighting.
The PFA says at least 325 members of its football community – including players, managers, referees, coaches, and staff – have been killed since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023.
The United Nations reports that more than 1,300 people have been killed by Israeli forces while seeking food since late May, with over 800 deaths occurring near sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the United States.
Palestine has been a FIFA-recognized national team since 1998, competing in the last three AFC Asian Cup tournaments, though it has yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
