‘Stop killing children' banner not political, says Uefa
The banner was shown before the match in Udine, Italy, and two Palestinian refugee children joined seven others from conflict zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Ukraine at the opening ceremony.
A Uefa insider said the message was 'not political but about humanity — in fact you could say it is just common sense', and that it had been planned long before the Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah called out the European governing body last week on its tribute to a Palestinian footballer who was killed in an Israeli attack.
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Uefa's rules do not permit political messages or actions inside or in the vicinity of stadiums before, during or after matches. Its banner did not name a specific conflict.
Salah had posted on social media in response to Uefa's tribute which did not mention the Palestine international Suleiman al-Obeid was killed when, according to a Palestinian FA statement, Israeli military fired on civilians waiting for humanitarian aid last week.
Obeid was nicknamed the 'Palestinian Pelé' and Salah quoted Uefa's message in his own post on X and said: 'Can you tell us how he died, where and why?'
Uefa said in a statement on Wednesday announcing the banner that the Uefa Foundation for Children had invited two refugee children from Gaza, who have been receiving medical treatment in Milan, to be part of the medal ceremony along with the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin.
It said: '12-year-old Tala is a young Palestinian girl with fragile health who was transferred to Milan to receive appropriate medical care, as the adequate equipment was lacking in Gaza after the start of the war.
The refugee children kneeled behind the banner as the players lined up before kick-off
REUTERS
'Tala will be joined on the podium by nine-year-old Mohamed, who lost his parents during the war and was severely injured following an air strike. Due to the seriousness of his condition and his young age, Mohamed and his grandmother were fortunate enough to leave Gaza and were welcomed in Milan, where Mohamed is currently undergoing medical treatment.
'Nine children who are refugees in Italy — coming from different conflict zones (Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine and Ukraine) will also participate in the opening ceremony, displaying a banner 'STOP KILLING CHILDREN — STOP KILLING CIVILIANS' during the teams' line-up.
'The nine children are beneficiaries of one of the Uefa Foundation for Children partners, Inter Campus, a foundation active, among other areas, in social integration among differing ethnic groups and cultures.'
Another 82 underprivileged or ill children coming from deprived areas around Udine were also invited by the local Serie A team Udinese to meet the teams upon arrival at the stadium and watch the game together.
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