Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has challenged UEFA for failing to clarify how a footballer known as the “Palestinian Pele” died in its tribute to him.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) reported on Wednesday that Suleiman Al-Obeid, 41, was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza.
UEFA posted on X that he was “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times”.
In response, Egyptian star Salah wrote: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” At 33, Salah, who has over 19 million followers on X, has previously urged for an end to the massacres in the ongoing conflict and for humanitarian aid to be permitted into Gaza.
In a video posted on Instagram in October 2023, he stated: “It is not always easy to speak in times like this.
We have seen too much violence and too much heartbreak. The recent escalations are unbearable. All lives are precious and must be protected.
The massacres must end. Families are suffering.” The PFA stated that Al-Obeid, who was married with two sons and three daughters, represented the national team 24 times, scoring twice. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have been approached for a comment.
