Overview
- UEFA’s initial X tribute to al-Obeid on Aug. 7 praised the 41-year-old as the “Palestinian Pelé” and highlighted his inspirational impact without detailing that he died under Israeli gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid.
- On Aug. 9, Mohamed Salah replied to UEFA’s post with “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”, a message that has since been viewed by tens of millions and reshared by high-profile figures.
- The Palestine Football Association reports that al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals in his career and was one of at least 325 members of Gaza’s football community killed since the October 2023 war began.
- Beyond a private letter of condolence from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praising al-Obeid’s resilience and hope for Gazan children, the governing body has offered no further public explanation.
- Salah’s intervention has intensified calls for sports institutions to transparently acknowledge civilian casualties in Gaza when issuing tributes to victims.