Latest news with #PalestinianFootballAssociation
Daily Tribune
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Salah Slams UEFA for Leaving Out Details in Tribute to Palestinian Football Star
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah has criticised European football's governing body, UEFA, for leaving out key details in its tribute to Palestinian football legend Suleiman al-Obeid, who was killed this week in Gaza. The Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Thursday that Obeid, 41, was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza. Known as the 'Pelé of Palestinian football,' Obeid scored more than 100 goals during his career and represented Palestine in 24 international matches, netting twice. UEFA posted a message on X on Friday, calling Obeid 'a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.' But Salah, 33, responded on Saturday, urging UEFA to be transparent about the circumstances of Obeid's death. 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' he wrote. The tragedy comes amid Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, launched after the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Gaza's health ministry says more than 61,300 people have been killed since then, with at least 38 deaths and nearly 500 injuries reported in the past 24 hours alone. The UN has also warned that hunger is taking a deadly toll, reporting earlier this month that at least 1,373 Palestinians have died while trying to get food since late May.
UAE Moments
an hour ago
- Sport
- UAE Moments
Mohamed Salah Criticizes UEFA for Omitting Gaza Death Context in Tribute to Al-Obeid
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has taken aim at UEFA for leaving out the circumstances of Palestinian football legend Suleiman al-Obeid's death in its tribute post. Obeid, 41, was killed earlier this week in an Israeli strike while waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association. Remembering the 'Palestinian Pelé' Nicknamed the 'Pelé of Palestinian football,' Obeid netted more than 100 goals in his career and scored twice in 24 international matches. UEFA's post praised him as a talent who inspired children 'even in the darkest of times,' but did not mention how or where he died. Public Call-Out On Saturday, Salah directly responded to UEFA on X, asking: 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' The 33-year-old Egyptian has long been vocal about humanitarian access to Gaza and has urged world leaders to step in to stop the bloodshed.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Fans and family honour ‘Palestinian Pele' killed in Gaza
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Doaa, the widow of late footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the "Palestinian Pele," who was killed by an Israeli strike targeting people waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the Palestine Football Association, looks at his picture while holding his shorts, as her son sits beside her inside their tent in Gaza City on Aug 9, 2025. GAZA CITY – The 'Pele' of Palestinian football hoped to keep scoring goals until he was 50. An Israeli tank shell dashed that dream a decade early, his family said, killing Suleiman al-Obeid as he queued in southern Gaza last week to collect food. Obeid's widow Doaa al-Obeid now clutches the blue-and-white No. 10 shorts he wore for his Gaza club, Al-Shati, one of the only mementos she has of her late husband, as she and her five children mourn the revered 41-year-old striker. 'This is the most precious thing left behind by him,' she said. The family have few other belongings of Obeid, whose home was destroyed in a bombardment earlier in 2025. They now live in a tent among the ruins of a neighbourhood of Gaza City. Obeid, likened by fans to Brazilian great Pele for his skills and goalscoring, hit headlines this week after Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah criticised a tribute to Obeid by Europe's governing body Uefa that did not mention the cause of death. 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' wrote Salah. The Palestinian Football Association said Obeid was killed in an attack by the Israeli military in southern Gaza while waiting to collect aid at a distribution point. His family said it was a tank shell that killed him. Responding to Salah's post on X, an Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said: 'Hey Mohamed, After an initial review, we found no records of any incidents involving Suleiman al-Obeid. In order to take a closer look, we need more details.' Obeid, who had played for the Palestinian national team, was still playing for his club in Gaza when the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. Hamas attacked Israeli towns and villages killing more than 1,200 people. Israel in response has laid waste to the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave housing more than 2 million people, and killed some 61,000 Palestinians. Most have been killed by airstrikes, artillery and gunfire, but a growing number are starving to death. Obeid kept playing throughout the hardship, his widow Doaa said. 'He used to go training every day and never stopped, not a single day. Even during the crisis of war, in the midst of rockets, shelling and mass killing, he would go play. He used to gather his friends and loved ones and go play with them,' she said. The Palestinian Football Association says hundreds of athletes and sports officials are among those killed by Israel's assault, with most sports facilities now destroyed. Palestinian football fans say they will focus not on Obeid's violent death but his legacy. 'Children called him the Henry and Pele of Palestine,' said Hassan al-Balawi, a barber in Gaza City, in a comparison also with French great Thierry Henry. 'This player was a gazelle – when we stepped onto the pitch, we enjoyed watching him. All Palestinian football fans enjoyed captain Suleiman al-Obeid.' REUTERS
AsiaOne
12 hours ago
- Sport
- AsiaOne
Fans and family honour 'Palestinian Pele' killed in Gaza, World News
GAZA CITY — The "Pele" of Palestinian football hoped to keep scoring goals until he was 50. An Israeli tank shell dashed that dream a decade early, his family said, killing Suleiman al-Obeid as he queued in southern Gaza this week to collect food. Obeid's widow Doaa al-Obeid now clutches the blue-and-white number 10 shorts he wore for his Gaza club, Al-Shati, one of the only mementos she has of her late husband, as she and her five children mourn the revered 41-year-old striker. "This is the most precious thing left behind by him," she said. The family have few other belongings of Obeid, whose home was destroyed in a bombardment earlier this year. They now live in a tent among the ruins of a neighbourhood of Gaza City. Obeid, likened by fans to Brazilian great Pele for his skills and goalscoring, hit headlines this week after Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah criticised a tribute to Obeid by Europe's governing body UEFA that did not mention the cause of death. "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?" wrote Salah. The Palestinian Football Association said Obeid was killed in an attack by the Israeli military in southern Gaza while waiting to collect aid at a distribution point. His family said it was a tank shell that killed him. Responding to Salah's post on X, an Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said: "Hey Mohamed, After an initial review, we found no records of any incidents involving Suleiman al-Obeid. In order to take a closer look, we need more details." Obeid, who had played for the Palestinian national team, was still playing for his club in Gaza when the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. Hamas attacked Israeli towns and villages killing more than 1,200 people. Israel in response has laid waste to the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave housing more than 2 million people, and killed some 61,000 Palestinians. Most have been killed by airstrikes, artillery and gunfire, but a growing number are starving to death. 'This player was a gazelle' Obeid kept playing throughout the hardship, his widow Doaa said. "He used to go training every day and never stopped, not a single day. Even during the crisis of war, in the midst of rockets, shelling and mass killing, he would go play. He used to gather his friends and loved ones and go play with them," she said. The Palestinian Football Association says hundreds of athletes and sports officials are among those killed by Israel's assault, with most sports facilities now destroyed. Palestinian football fans say they will focus not on Obeid's violent death but his legacy. "Children called him the Henry and Pele of Palestine," said Hassan al-Balawi, a barber in Gaza City, in a comparison also with French great Thierry Henry. "This player was a gazelle — when we stepped onto the pitch, we enjoyed watching him. All Palestinian football fans enjoyed Captain Suleiman al-Obeid." [[nid:721193]]
NBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC News
Family mourns Palestinian soccer star killed in Gaza
Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the "Pelé of Palestinian football," was killed while waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association.
