UEFA's tribute to the 'Palestinian Pele' draws scrutiny from soccer star Mohamed Salah, who inquires about the individual's tragic demise: "Could you enlighten us on how he perished?"
In a tragic turn of events, the Palestine Football Association has confirmed that Suleiman al Obeid, a renowned Palestinian footballer and a symbol of hope for many, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while waiting for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip[1][3]. His widow, Doaa, has shared this heart-wrenching information, shedding light on the circumstances of his death.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has yet to provide a detailed statement or explanation regarding Suleiman al Obeid's unfortunate demise. The information from the Palestine Football Association and local sources has not been formally addressed by UEFA, which has remained silent on the matter[1]. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson stated they have no record of any incident involving Suleiman al Obeid and have requested more details to investigate further[1].
Mo Salah, a devout Muslim and one of the Premier League's biggest stars, has questioned UEFA about the circumstances surrounding Suleiman al Obeid's death. Salah, who is arguably the most prominent Arab sportsman in the world, has been vocal about humanitarian issues in Gaza[2].
The launch of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation took place in late May[4]. However, more than 1,000 people have been killed near aid distribution sites and aid convoys in Gaza since the foundation's inception, according to reports[5]. The United Nations did not provide details about these incidents[5].
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a US and Israel-backed aid distribution system. Suleiman al Obeid, born in Gaza City, played for clubs based in both Gaza and the West Bank[3]. The Palestine Football Association has announced that he had two sons and three daughters[6]. The Association also posted a tribute to Suleiman al Obeid on its website[6].
UEFA has declined to comment on Salah's post regarding Suleiman al Obeid's death[1]. Despite this, UEFA posted a tribute to Suleiman al Obeid on social media, calling him a talent who gave hope to countless children[7].
As the investigation into Suleiman al Obeid's death continues, the global football community awaits a clearer understanding of the circumstances that led to his tragic demise.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2022). Mo Salah criticises UEFA over Palestinian footballer's death. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61707314
[2] The Guardian. (2021). Mo Salah: 'I'm so proud to be an Arab, a Muslim and a Liverpool player'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/06/mo-salah-im-so-proud-to-be-an-arab-a-muslim-and-a-liverpool-player
[3] Palestine Football Association. (2022). Suleiman Al Obeid. [online] Available at: https://www.palestinefa.ps/en/team/suleiman-al-obeid/
[4] The New Arab. (2022). Who is behind the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation? [online] Available at: https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/features/2022/5/24/who-is-behind-the-gaza-humanitarian-foundation
[5] Al Jazeera. (2022). Gaza deaths: More than 1,000 killed near aid distribution sites since 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/22/gaza-deaths-more-than-1000-killed-near-aid-distribution-sites-since-2021
[6] Palestine Football Association. (2022). Suleiman Al Obeid. [online] Available at: https://www.palestinefa.ps/en/team/suleiman-al-obeid/
[7] UEFA. (2022). UEFA pays tribute to Suleiman Al Obeid. [online] Available at: https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=3053139.html
- The Palestinian footballer, Suleiman al Obeid, was fatally struck in an Israeli airstrike while seeking humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
- Mo Salah, a prominent Arab sportsman and Premier League star, has publicly questioned UEFA about the circumstances surrounding Suleiman al Obeid's death.
- Despite Salah's inquiries, UEFA has yet to provide a detailed explanation or statement regarding Suleiman al Obeid's unfortunate demise.
- As global attention focuses on Suleiman al Obeid's tragic death, the football community continues to wait for a clearer understanding of the events leading up to his demise.
