Liverpool's Mohamed Salah calls out UEFA over 'farewell' to Palestinian footballer reportedly killed by Israeli forces

Following the death of 41-year-old Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, Liverpool player Mohamed Salah called the Union of European Football Associations' (UEFA) tribute to Al-Obeid, also known as the "Palestinian Pele".

The Palestinian Football Association said that the 41-year-old was killed by Israeli forces while waiting for humanitarian aid with other civilians in the Southern Gaza Strip on Aug. 6.

Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals over his career and played 24 international matches as part of Palestine's national football team.

In a tweet on Aug. 9, UEFA gave a two-sentence tribute to Al-Obeid, describing the man as a "talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times."

They also said "farewell" to him.

In response, Salah tweeted on Aug. 10: "Can you tell us how he died, where and why?"

Following Salah's tweet, the Palestinian Football Association uploaded a statement from UEFA's president to Facebook.

In the statement, UEFA's president Aleksander Ceferin said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of Al-Obeid's death.

He added that Al-Obeid was more than just a football player, but he was "proof that joy and talent can flourish despite hardship".

On behalf of UEFA, he then extended their deepest condolences.

"We hope his memory will live on, not just as a point in the history of Palestinian sport, but also in the hearts of all who believe that the future will be free from violence."

Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023, 325 players, coaches, administrators, referees and club board members have died, said the Palestinian Football Association on Aug. 9.

More than 61,300 have been killed in Gaza since then, BBC said.

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Top photos via Mohamed Salah/X