Mohamed Salah, one of the biggest football stars, criticized the director of sport in Europe for his tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid, known as “Palestinian football”, who did not mention how he died last week.
Al-Obeid, 41, was killed by Israeli shots on Wednesday when he was looking for humanitarian aid in the Southern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian Football Association (PFA).
“Farewell with Suleiman al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pelé,” said the Union of European Football Associations in an article on X. “A talent that gave hope to countless children on Friend, even in the darkest moments.”
“Can you tell us how he died, where and why?” Salah, an attacker for the Premier League Liverpool club and the captain of the Egyptian national team, said in response.
UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comments on Sunday.
Salah, 33, was a vocal defender of increased humanitarian aid in Gaza, who, according to the United Nations and other international experts, is on the brink of 22 months in the War of Israel with Hamas, which controls the enclave of around 2 million people.
Finding food has become more difficult and fatal for Palestinians since the end of May, when the American and Israeli humanitarian foundation resumed the distribution of aid after Israel has raised a blockade of two and a half months.
About 1,400 Palestinians were killed while looking for food aid, mainly in the hands of the Israeli army, says the UN. The Israeli army says it does not target civilians.
Salah is not the only football star to talk about the circumstances of the death of Al-Obeid.
Eric Cantona, a former professional footballer from France who was an attacker for Manchester United, published a tribute on Instagram alongside a photo of al-Obeid, asking: “How long will we let them commit this genocide ???”
Israel insists that he fights an existential war and rejects the allegations of genocide as anti -Semitic.
On Saturday, the PFA shared a declaration awarded to the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, praising Al-Obeid for having given “talents and dedication to the children of Gaza” and by giving their dreams “the hope of flourishing despite the suffering”.
Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals during his long career, including two for the Palestinian national team, “by making one of the brightest stars in Palestinian football,” said the PFA.
He is survived by his wife and five children.
The PFA said on x On Saturday that 325 players, coaches, administrators, referees and members of the board of directors of the Palestinian football community died in the conflict.
According to the local ministry of health, more than 61,000 people were killed in Gaza, including thousands of children, while a large part of the territory lies in the ruins.
Israel launched its offensive after the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, during which activists led by Hamas killed around 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. Of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, Israel believes that 20 are still alive.
