Salah Questions UEFA Over Palestinian Player’s Death

Mohamed Salah often uses his platform to speak out on global issues, and the Liverpool forward didn’t shy away after ‘Palestinian Pele’ Suleiman Al-Obeid died recently

Mohamed Salah called on UEFA to explain the context surrounding the death of Palestinian soccer star Suleiman Al-Obeid.

The Premier League season begins next week, and Salah is the most expensive player in Fantasy. Last season, the Egyptian scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists, leading the league in both categories.

The talismanic forward signed a new deal to stay with the Reds for the foreseeable future, although Salah will be away at the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from December 21 to January 18. However, Salah took to social media to question another continent’s governing body.

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On Friday, UEFA posted a tribute to Al-Obeid, writing: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele.’ A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”

Al-Obeid, who developed a nickname referencing the Brazilian legend as he became known as the ‘Palestinian Pele,’ was killed in an attack by Israeli forces while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). The 41-year-old is survived by his wife and five children.

Salah reposted UEFA’s post and asked: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

Al-Obeid began his football career with Khadamat al-Shati. He also played for Markaz Shabab al-Am’ari in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Sport, for whom he scored a combined 100+ goals, earning the Pele nickname.

He made his national team debut for Palestine in 2007, winning 24 caps and scoring twice, one of which was a stunning scissors kick against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship. He also won multiple titles at club level and back-to-back top scorer awards in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

According to the PFA, 662 people—including Al-Obeid—are associated with the sporting sector, including 321 involved in football.

Gaza is currently facing a hunger crisis due to Israel’s severe restrictions on humanitarian aid allowed into the territory. Last month, the UN rights office said that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians trying to get food aid in the enclave since late May.

Salah has addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza before. In 2023, he posted a video following Israel’s military response to the October 7 attack, describing scenes as “horrifying.”

“The people of Gaza need food, water, and medical supplies urgently,” Salah said in a video posted on X. “All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop. Families are being torn apart.

“I am calling on the world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls. Humanity must prevail.”

Liverpool face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, Aug. 10 before hosting Bournemouth at Anfield in the first game of the Premier League season on Friday, Aug. 15.

Liverpool.com