Mohamed Salah Slams UEFA for Silence After Killing of ‘Palestinian Pelé’

Egyptian Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah publicly criticized European football’s governing body on Saturday over its muted response to the killing of Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid in Gaza.

Salah — the most prominent Arab player in Football — highlighted that UEFA’s statement made no mention of the circumstances surrounding Al-Obeid’s death.

According to the Palestine Football Association (PFA), Al-Obeid, a former member of the Palestinian national team, was killed in an Israeli strike that targeted civilians waiting for aid in southern Gaza.

“Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pelé’. A talent who inspired hope in countless children, even during the darkest times,” UEFA wrote in a post on X.

Can you tell us how he died, where, and why? https://t.co/W7HCyVVtBE

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) August 9, 2025

In response, Salah challenged the statement on Saturday, asking, “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” His comment quickly went viral, gathering over 840,000 likes by Saturday night.

UEFA has yet to issue any further public remarks. CNN has reached out to the Switzerland-based organization for comment.

Later that day, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) shared a statement in Arabic, reportedly from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, offering condolences on Al-Obeid’s death.

The statement attributed to Ceferin said Al-Obeid demonstrated that “joy, talent, and pride can flourish even amid suffering.” It added, “His skill and dedication to the game gave hope for a brighter tomorrow to the children of Gaza and beyond.”

Al-Obeid was born in Gaza City and was 41 years old at the time of his death, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). Over his long career, he scored more than 100 goals, the PFA reported.

Salah, a four-time Premier League top scorer, is among the most high-profile footballers to speak out against the conflict in Gaza. He has called for immediate humanitarian aid access to the enclave, urged world leaders to help end the fighting, and demanded an end to the “massacres.”

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, the PFA says 325 members of its football community have been killed — including players, managers, referees, coaches, and staff.

The United Nations reports that over 1,300 people seeking food have been killed by Israeli forces since late May, coinciding with the start of operations by the controversial Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). More than 800 of these deaths occurred near GHF sites, the UN says.

Currently, 75% of United Nations member states recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, with countries such as Britain, France, and Canada recently announcing plans to do the same. At the UN, Palestine holds the status of a non-member observer state in the General Assembly, as the United States continues to block full membership.

In the world of football, Palestine has been recognized by FIFA since 1998. The team has participated in the last three Asian Cup tournaments but has yet to qualify for the World Cup.