Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has criticised UEFA for what he described as an incomplete tribute to late Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, calling on European football’s governing body to acknowledge the circumstances of his death.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) announced that Obeid, 41, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip.
Widely known as the “Pele of Palestinian football,” Obeid scored more than 100 career goals, including two in 24 appearances for Palestine.
UEFA posted a message on X on Friday saying: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele.’ A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
The tribute made no mention of how Obeid died, prompting a pointed response from Salah the following day: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
The PFA said Obeid’s death brings to 662 the number of Palestinian athletes and sporting officials killed since the conflict began in October 2023.
UEFA has not publicly responded to Salah’s comment, but the PFA also released a letter from UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin expressing his sadness at Obeid’s “tragic death” and praising him as “more than just a footballer” whose talent gave “reason to believe in a brighter tomorrow.”
An Israeli military spokesperson replied to Salah on X, claiming no record of incidents involving Obeid had been found and requesting more details.
Salah has previously spoken out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling on world leaders to “prevent further slaughter of innocent souls.”
