Key points
- Obeid was married and had five children
- He played 24 international matches for Palestine
- During Gaza war, 662 people from the sports and scouting sector have been killed
ISLAMABAD: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah on Saturday criticised UEFA’s tribute to the late Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” after European soccer’s governing body failed to reference the circumstances surrounding his death this week.
The Palestine Football Association said that Al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Europe’s football governing body UEFA posted on X: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pelé’.
A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times. pic.twitter.com/wGSXCq2ceo
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 8, 2025
Egyptian striker Salah responded by posting: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
Can you tell us how he died, where, and why? https://t.co/W7HCyVVtBE
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) August 9, 2025
Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married and had five children. He played 24 international matches for Palestine.
In October 2023, Salah called on “world leaders to come together” to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza to “prevent further slaughter of innocent souls”.
Since the start of the Gaza war, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community, according to the PFA.
Salah, who was the Premier League top scorer last season, is due to line up for Liverpool on Sunday in the Community Shield at Wembley against Crystal Palace, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season.
