UEFA under fire for post on Mohamed Salah's Palestinian contemporary's demise
In the southern Gaza Strip, Suleiman Obeid, affectionately known as the "Palestinian Pele," was tragically killed on August 6 or 7, 2025. According to reports from Palestinian sources and the Football Association, Obeid was among civilians affected by an Israeli military strike while waiting for humanitarian aid. He was 41 years old at the time of his death.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have denied any records of an incident involving Obeid, requesting more details to investigate further. This conflicting narrative has sparked outrage among human rights and pro-Palestine activists, who have taken to social media to offer their condolences to Obeid's family and call for justice.
One such voice is Mohamed Salah, the renowned Egyptian footballer and Liverpool forward. Salah criticised UEFA for a tribute post regarding Obeid's death, questioning the lack of clarity about the circumstances surrounding his demise. He expressed deep anguish over the ongoing escalation of violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasising that "all lives are sacred" and calling for immediate access to humanitarian aid including food, water, and medical supplies.
Salah's tweet received over a million likes and more than 78 million views, reflecting the global concern over the situation in Gaza. He also condemned the massacres and urged world leaders to act to prevent further loss of innocent lives, highlighting the dire conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Many pro-Palestine activists are urging the ban of Israel from the joint association, citing Israel's actions as being responsible for Obeid's death and questioning UEFA's silence on the matter. Some have compared Israel's actions to those of Russia, which was banned from the association for less severe offenses.
As of the time of writing, UEFA has not made a statement regarding the backlash it faced due to its post about Suleiman Obeid. The killing of Obeid continues to spark outrage among human rights and pro-Palestine activists, who demand transparency and accountability.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025). Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid killed by Israeli strike, sources say. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/6/palestinian-footballer-suleiman-obeid-killed-by-israeli-strike-sources-say
[2] Reuters. (2025). Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid killed in Israeli strike, sources say. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/06/palestinian-footballer-suleiman-obeid-killed-in-israeli-strike-sources-say
[3] BBC Sport. (2025). Mohamed Salah criticises UEFA over post about Suleiman Obeid. BBC Sport. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59900548
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