Athletes demand Israel’s UEFA suspension after killing of "Palestinian Pelé"

Last Friday, professional athletes from various sports issued a joint statement urging UEFA — one of football’s biggest governing bodies — to suspend Israel from future competitions “until it complies with international law and ends the killing of civilians.” [1]

Signed collectively as “Athletes 4 Peace” and released by Nujum Sports, the group also demanded the “equal application of sporting sanctions to all nations violating international law” in addition to “recognition of the role of athletes in speaking out for justice and human rights.” [1]

Palestinian Pelé

The global group’s demands follow the case of Suleiman al-Obeid, affectionately known as the “Palestinian Pelé”, who was martyred when Zionist forces struck civilians lining up for aid in southern Gaza in early August. [2]

Born in Gaza in March 1984, al-Obeid began his career at Khadamat al-Shati, before moving to Markaz Shabab al-Am’ari in the occupied West Bank, and Gaza Sport. After his 2007 debut he grew to become a well-established name in the Palestinian national squad. One of his most famous goals was with a scissor-kick against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship.

In a spectacular own goal, UEFA posted a tribute to al-Obeid but tellingly left out the cause of his death, prompting Liverpool forward and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah to write on X:

Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” [3]

Ebadur Rahman, Founder and CEO of Nujum Sports, said of the press release and broader context,

“Sport cannot stand silent while athletes and civilians including children are indiscriminately killed en masse in Gaza. It is an obligation for sporting bodies to take action against sports teams representing a country which a United Nations commission has concluded is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

This is not about politics or taking sides. It’s about justice, humanity, and the values sport claims to stand for, and not allowing nations to whitewash their illegal and inhumane actions through sport.” [1]

Livestreamed genocide continues on

To date, estimates of casualty numbers range wildly, from a confirmed 66,000 to well in excess of 186,000, with lower figures not including the many thousands who remain buried under rubble or otherwise lost. [4] [5]

Despite the continued instant updates on our screens, and as the genocide nears another anniversary, the world has never been so united in condemning the Zionist regime. Those few who remain in support of it are finding themselves more and more isolated among the overwhelming majority who favour justice.

We need to encourage more people of influence to speak out and engage in collective action so that the Zionist regime feels the pressure.