Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah reacts after failing to score from the penalty spot during the second of two pre season friendly football matches between Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 4, 2025. Photo: AFP
Al-Obeid, 41-year-old, was killed last week in an Israeli strike on civilians while waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA).
His death added to the mounting toll of sports figures and civilians killed amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
He was a prominent figure in Palestinian football, with a career that spanned with clubs like Khadamat al-Shati, Gaza Sport, and Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari.
UEFA on Friday issued a brief message on X, paying homage to Al-Obeid, with a statement that read: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pele'. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
However, Salah found the tribute insufficient, with the Liverpool forward responding publicly, questioning, “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
Salah then shared a screenshot of UEFA’s post on his Instagram account, with over 65 million followers, escalating the pressure on international sports bodies to clarify the circumstances of Al-Obeid’s death.
The Egyptian international has previously called for urgent humanitarian intervention, condemning the violence and demanding aid access for the people of Gaza.
Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals in his career and earned 24 caps for Palestine, scoring twice, including a memorable scissor-kick goal during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship.
His nickname references his skill and resilience, with many praising his role as a symbol of hope in difficult times.
The PFA says 421 footballers, 103 of them children, have been killed or died from starvation in Gaza and the surrounding regions since the war began, while 288 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed, with global monitoring groups estimate that at least 662 athletes and their relatives have lost their lives.
Despite these facts, UEFA’s silence on the specific circumstances of his death has drawn widespread criticism.
Salah, who donated to the Egyptian Red Crescent’s Gaza relief efforts in 2023, has repeatedly highlighted the humanitarian crisis, as he urged world leaders in 2023 to intervene and facilitate aid deliveries after nearly 500 people died in a hospital explosion in Gaza.
In a widely shared 2023 video he emphasized that all lives are sacred and called for an end to violence, urging international action to prevent further massacres, declaring: “The massacres need to stop… Humanity must prevail.”
The Liverpool star’s public questioning of UEFA reflects his broader frustration with perceived inaction amid ongoing atrocities.
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