UEFA Responds to Salah’s Plea: Advocates for Peace Amid Palestinian Tragedy

Published on: Aug 15, 2025 10:42 am IST

UEFA responds to Mohamed Salah’s plea with “Stop killing children” banner at Super Cup

After being criticized for its silence, UEFA acknowledged the crisis in Gaza during the Super Cup match between
Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur. A banner stating “Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians.”
was displayed in response to Mohamed Salah’s call for action regarding the death of Suleiman Al-Obeid.

The match, held at Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy, served as UEFA’s platform for opening the dialogue on the recent
violence in Palestine. Salah, representing Liverpool and Egypt, had previously demanded transparency regarding
how Al-Obeid, known as the ‘Palestinian Pele’, died.

Refugee children deliver UEFA’s message at the Super Cup

UEFA’s poignant gesture involved nine child refugees from Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iraq unfurling
the banner before the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw with Paris winning on penalties. Calls for further action,
such as suspending the Israeli football association, persist in the wake of ongoing civilian casualties.

Despite UEFA’s acknowledgment, the sports community, backed by voices like Salah’s, continues to urge the use of
football as a force for good and advocate for lasting peace.