Latest news with #StopKillingChildren
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Stop Killing Children' banner displayed by Uefa ahead of PSG vs Spurs in Super Cup
Uefa contradicted its own rules on promoting political messages in football matches by displaying a giant 'Stop Killing Children, Stop Killing Civilians' banner on the pitch before Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain's Super Cup clash. The banner was placed in front of the players as they lined up ahead of kick-off at the Stadio Friuli in Udine. Europe's governing body does not allow political messages to be shown in stadiums before, during or after matches, as per its own rulebook. They nevertheless chose to make this statement but did not name a specific war in the display, involving children from conflict zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine and Ukraine involved in the opening ceremony. Two refugee children from Gaza later joining Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin in the medal ceremony. One of the children was Tala, 12, described by Uefa as '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'. Nine-year-old boy Mohamed was the other child involved in the ceremony, who lost his parents in an air strike in Gaza. It comes after Uefa came under fire from Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah over a tribute towards late Palestinian forward Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the 'Palestinian Pele', that didn't acknowledge that he was killed in an Israeli attack. The Palestine Football Association (PFA) said that Al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Salah quoted the tribute on X and added: 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' The post currently sits on 1.5m likes and 397,000 retweets, as of the time of writing. The PFA said on Saturday that 325 players, coaches, administrators, referees and club board members in the Palestinian soccer community have died in the Israeli- Hamas conflict since October 2023.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
UEFA claim their 'Stop killing children' Super Cup banner is NOT political after sparking Israeli anger with gesture days after Mohamed Salah criticised their tribute to 'Palestinian Pele'
UEFA have defended their 'Stop killing children, stop killing civilians' banner displayed prior to Wednesday night's UEFA Super Cup - insisting that it was not a political message as they come under-fire for being 'hypocritical'. The banner was shown during the opening ceremony of Wednesday's showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur - with it being unfurled by nine refugee children from different conflict zones (Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine and Ukraine). Ahead of the match at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy; European football's governing body announced that two refugee children from the Israel-Gaza War were going to take to take part in the medals ceremony too. And following on from the events in Udine, Israeli football figures called out the banner gesture as 'hypocritical,' according to Israeli outlet, JFeed. They add that an official also demanded to know 'Where were you on October 7?' as tensions continue during that conflict. Under their own rules, UEFA state that political messages can not be promoted in stadiums before, during or after matches. And they have double-downed on that stance, by insisting that message was about humanity, not politics. A UEFA insider told The Times that the message was 'not political but about humanity - in fact you could say it is just common sense'. Of the two refugee children that took part in the medals ceremony, UEFA said: 'Twelve-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. '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.' In the past club's displaying political banners have been punished by UEFA, with Celtic fined £8,635 (€10,000) for the displaying of an 'illicit banner' during a match against Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva in September 2016. Palestinian flags were visible during the Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic Park on 17 August, 2016. However, UEFA chose to not sanction the Scottish giants earlier this year during their Champions League play-off first-leg against Bayern Munich. That February 12, 2025 match saw a banner relating to Israel was unveiled by supporters at half-time and remained in place for the majority of the second half. Hundreds of Celtic fans held up red sheets of paper in the seats below where the banner - which read 'Show Israel the red card' - was displayed. Wednesday's scenes comes just days after Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah questioned UEFA's 'farewell' to former Palestinian soccer player Suleiman Obeid who was reportedly shot and killed by Israeli forces while awaiting aid in Gaza. 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' Salah asked on the social network X in response to a post from UEFA saying, 'Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the `Palestinian Pele. 'A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.' Obeid, 41, was fatally shot by Israeli forces on Wednesday while he was waiting among crowds for aid near a distribution site in southern Gaza, the Palestine Football Association said. He leaves behind a wife and five children. The Associated Press could not independently verify the account. Obeid played 24 games for Palestine, scoring two goals, while he scored more than 100 over his career with local clubs, said the PFA, which described him as 'one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football.' The PFA published a letter attributed to Aleksander Ceferin in which the UEFA president said he was 'deeply saddened by the tragic death' of Obeid, who was 'more than just a footballer. He was proof that joy, skill, and pride can flourish despite suffering. 'His talent and dedication to the game gave the children of Gaza and beyond reason to believe in a brighter tomorrow. His passing is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who understands the power of sport to inspire.' UEFA issued this statement on X, saying he was a 'talent who gave hope to countless children' Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani replied to Salah on X: '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.' The PFA said Obeid´s death brings to 662 the number of Palestinian athletes and sporting officials killed since the 22-month war started. The UN human rights office said last month that some 1,400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid in Gaza since May, nearly all by Israeli fire. Israel´s air and ground campaign has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population , destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine . Hamas-led militants triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people.
Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times
‘Stop killing children' banner not political, says Uefa
Uefa has insisted that its banner saying 'Stop Killing Children — Stop Killing Civilians' at last night's Super Cup between Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain was not a political message but about humanity. 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. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. 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.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Uefa displays 'stop killing children' banner
A banner which read "Stop killing children - Stop killing civilians" was displayed by Uefa before the Super Cup final between Tottenham and Paris St-Germain on Wednesday. The sign was shown on the pitch in front of the players as they lined up before kick-off at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. Two refugee children from Gaza were involved in the medal football's governing body said they were a 12-year-old Palestinian girl called Tala and nine-year-old boy Mohamed, who have both relocated to Milan for medical children who are refugees in Italy from areas of conflict including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Ukraine took part in the pre-match Saturday, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was critical of Uefa posting a tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid on social media which failed to refer to the circumstances surrounding his Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said Obeid, 41, who was known as the "Pele of Palestinian football", was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip the previous Uefa paid tribute to Al-Obeid in a post on X, Salah responded "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?"On Tuesday, the Uefa Foundation for Children announced it had expanded its humanitarian efforts to help children in Gaza, partnering with three charities providing humanitarian to Uefa's own rules, political, ideological, and religious messages are prohibited in stadiums before, during or after matches. Uefa can impose financial penalties and other disciplinary measures for breaking these rules. Tala, who joined Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin for the medal ceremony after PSG beat Spurs on penalties, was described as a young girl "with fragile health", who had been transferred to Milan to receive appropriate medical care, with equipment lacking in Gaza since the start of the war. She was joined on the podium by Mohamed who lost both his parents during the war and was "severely injured following an air strike". Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken offensive has since killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It says that 235 people including 106 children have also died due to starvation and malnutrition.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
UEFA pays tribute to slain Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid
DUBAI: UEFA unfurled a banner with the message 'Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians' on the pitch on Wednesday ahead of the UEFA Super Cup showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, Italy. The message came as a tribute following the death of Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the 'Palestinian Pele,' who was killed by Israeli gunfire while awaiting aid in Gaza earlier this month. Nine child refugees from Palestine, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iraq carried the banner onto the pitch before the game. The international football community failed to publicly condemn Al-Obeid's killing at first, but UEFA later posted a tribute without mentioning or explaining the circumstances surrounding his death. In a brief post on X, UEFA said the former national team member was 'a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.' Egyptian and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah criticized the tribute, saying: 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?'
