Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has openly criticized UEFA for what he described as a vague and incomplete tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid, the celebrated Palestinian footballer known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” who was recently killed in Gaza. UEFA posted its tribute to al-Obeid on social media, praising his footballing achievements and his ability to inspire hope “even in the darkest of times.” However, the message omitted the circumstances of his death.
According to the Palestine Football Association, the 41-year-old was killed in an Israeli airstrike while waiting in line for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza — a detail missing from UEFA’s statement.
Salah’s remarks on Twitter
Salah, captain of Egypt’s national team and Liverpool forward, reposted UEFA’s tribute on X (formerly Twitter) with a pointed question:
“Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
His remark drew global attention and thousands of responses, with many social media users echoing his criticism and urging UEFA to acknowledge the full context of al-Obeid’s death.
The Legacy of Al-Obeid
Nicknamed the “Palestinian Pelé” for his exceptional skill, al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals in his club career and earned 24 caps for Palestine’s national team. He was a sporting icon in Gaza, remembered not only for his talent on the pitch but also for mentoring young players in war-torn communities.Al-Obeid’s funeral drew large crowds in Gaza, where fans, friends, and family mourned both the man and the symbol he had become for Palestinian resilience.
UEFA has not yet responded to Salah’s remarks. Human rights organizations have long urged international sporting bodies to speak more openly about casualties in conflict zones, arguing that context matters when honoring athletes lost to war.
Salah’s intervention has once again placed the intersection of sport, politics, and humanitarian crisis in the spotlight , showing how a single question can challenge the language of official tributes and demand a fuller truth.
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