Palestinian "Pele" Dies, UN Human Rights Reporter Calls For Exclusion Of Israeli Players From UEFA Competition

UN Human Rights Special Reporter Total Albanese. (Wikimedia Commons/Photographruhi official de la Presidencia de Colombia)

JAKARTA - Special whistleblowers for the human rights situation in occupied Palestinian territories since 1967OVER Albanese have called for the expulsion of Israeli players from the European Football Association (UEFA) competition.

This call came after the death of Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obaid as a result of an Israeli attack.

"It's time to get rid of the killers from the competition, UEFA," he said in an upload on X, responding to a re-upload of UEFA saying goodbye to al-Obeyid.

"Let's make sports free from apartheid and genocide. One ball, one kick at one time," said Albanese.

In an upload on X, UEFA bid farewell to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obey, known as Palestine's "Pele".

The post describes al-Obey as: "A talent that gives hope to many children, even in the darkest times."

Al-Obaid earned the title "Pemen Palestinian" as recognition of his outstanding talent, referring to Brazilian football legend, Pepel, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history.

Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'.

A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times. pic.twitter.com/wGSXCq2ceo

— UEFA (@UEFA) August 8, 2025

Farewell to Suleiman al-Obaid, the 'Palestinian Pelisti'.

A talent who gave hope to countingless children, even in the darkest of times. pic.twitter.com/wGSXCq2ceo

Meanwhile, the family said Palestinian "Pele" hoped to continue scoring goals until the age of 50, quoted by Reuters.

An Israeli tank fire destroyed the dream a decade earlier, the family said, killing Suleiman al-Obey while queuing in southern Gaza to pick up food last week.

Al-Obaid, who manned for the Al-Shati club in Gaza, left behind a wife and five children. There are not many valuables that the family can remember. One of them is shorts number 10 belonging to al-Obeyat in Al-Shati. Their formula was destroyed by the bombing earlier this year and now they live in tents in the ruins of the Gaza City settlement.

The Palestinian Football Association said Obaid was killed in an Israeli military strike in southern Gaza while waiting for aid collection at the distribution point. His family said he died from being hit by tank fire.

Palestinian football fans say they will not focus on Obey's tragic death, but on its legacy.

"The children call him Henry and Pele of Palestine," said Hassan al-Balawi, a barber in Gaza City, comparing it with French legend Thierry Henry.

"This player is like a deer - when we stepped onto the field, we were happy to see him. All Palestinian football fans liked Captain Suleiman al-Obaid," he added.

It is known that thirty-nine athletes, talent seekers, and youth from the Palestinian sports and guided movement have died in the past month alone, bringing the total death toll among these since the start of the ongoing genocide to more than 656.