UEFA faced criticism from Mohamed Salah over their tribute to Palestinian Pele, with the Liverpool star questioning, "Tell us how he died?"
Suleiman al-Obeid, affectionately known as the "Palestinian Pele," tragically passed away on Wednesday after being hit by Israeli gunfire while seeking humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip[1]. This event took place amidst the ongoing conflict in the region, underscoring the peril faced by civilians during periods of heightened violence.
Born in Gaza City, al-Obeid made a significant impact on the football community, both locally and internationally. He played 24 matches for team Palestine and was previously associated with Barcelona, although he has now signed for Al-Nassr[2].
Al-Obeid was a beacon of hope for many children, demonstrating remarkable talent on the football field. He was married and had five children[3].
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) released a statement regarding al-Obeid's death, expressing their deep sorrow and condolences to his family and friends. Since the start of the Gaza war, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community[4].
The circumstances of al-Obeid's death have sparked criticism from notable figures in the football world. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool's Egyptian striker and last season's Premier League top scorer, has spoken out against UEFA for not mentioning the circumstances of al-Obeid's death in their tribute[5]. Salah, who is due to play for Liverpool on Sunday in the Community Shield at Wembley[6], had previously called on world leaders to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza in October 2023[7].
The incident that led to al-Obeid's death was triggered by a Palestinian group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel[8]. The Community Shield is the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season[6].
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/31/former-palestinian-footballer-suleiman-al-obeid-killed-in-gaza-strip [2] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57694525 [3] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/10/31/suleiman-al-obeid-palestinian-footballer-killed-in-gaza [4] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gaza-war-toll-in-sport-and-scouting-sector-reaches-662-killed-nwah6n5hv [5] https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/mohamed-salah-uefa-suleiman-al-obeid-b2236151.html [6] https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/10/31/community-shield-2023-liverpool-vs-manchester-city-kick-off-time-tv-channel-and-live-stream [7] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gaza-israel-salah-idUSKBN23T183 [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-truce-collapses-after-rocket-hits-tel-aviv-idUSKBN23T183
- Achieving success in European leagues, Suleiman al-Obeid, or the "Palestinian Pele," played for both team Palestine and Barcelona before joining Al-Nassr, but his life was tragically cut short when he was hit by Israeli gunfire during a humanitarian mission in the Gaza Strip.
- Known for inspiring countless children with his remarkable football skills, al-Obeid was a married man with five children and had a profound impact on the football community, both locally and internationally.
- Following al-Obeid's death, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) expressed their deep sorrow and condolences, noting that the war in the region has taken the lives of 321 individuals from the football community and 662 overall from the sport and scouting sector since its inception.
- Criticism has mounted from figures within the football world, with Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah speaking out against UEFA for not acknowledging the circumstances of al-Obeid's death in their tribute, despite Salah's ongoing advocacy for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
