Salah presses UEFA after tribute to Palestinian Pele Suleiman al-Obeid

Salah questions UEFA over how Suleiman al-Obeid died in a tribute it posted, highlighting concerns about transparency and memory.

Salah presses UEFA after tribute to Palestinian Pele Suleiman al-Obeid

Mohamed Salah has criticized UEFA for not stating how Suleiman al-Obeid died in a tribute posted by the federation. The Palestinian player, nicknamed the Palestinian Pele, was killed on Wednesday in southern Gaza as civilians waited for humanitarian aid, according to the Palestine Football Association.

UEFA's tribute read Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pele, a talent who gave hope to countless children even in the darkest times. Salah responded with a direct question about the death details, asking for how, where and why. The Palestine Football Association says al-Obeid earned 24 caps and scored twice for Palestine, and his passing is part of a wider toll on Palestinian athletes as sport infrastructure suffers across Gaza and the West Bank, with more than 1,300 Palestinians killed near aid distribution points since late May.

Sports figures are increasingly asked to act as moral voices in conflicts, and Salah's move shows how global attention can turn an athletic tribute into a demand for transparency. Yet memorials in war zones carry political risk, and moving from tribute to debate can inflame audiences on both sides.

This episode underscores a broader pattern where football bodies become players in humanitarian discourse. To avoid missteps, organizations should provide verifiable details alongside tributes and separate commemorations from political messaging.

Highlights

Memories should invite accountability not silence.