Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has criticised UEFA for omitting details about the death of Palestinian football legend Suleiman al-Obeid in a tribute posted on social media.
The 41-year-old, dubbed the “Pele of Palestinian football” by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the PFA. Obeid scored more than 100 goals in his career, including two in 24 appearances for Palestine.
On Friday, UEFA posted: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
Responding on Saturday, Salah wrote on X: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began after Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. Since then, over 61,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN says more than 1,370 Palestinians have died seeking food since late May, when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began distributing aid.
Salah has previously called for humanitarian corridors into Gaza and urged world leaders to act to prevent further civilian deaths.
