Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah on Saturday criticized UEFA's tribute to the late Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the "Palestinian Pele," after European soccer's governing body failed to reference the circumstances surrounding his death this week.
The Palestine Football Association claimed that Al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
In a brief post on X/Twitter, UEFA called the former national team member "a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times."
Salah responded: "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?"
UEFA was not immediately available to comment.
One of the Premier League's biggest stars, the 33-year-old Egyptian Salah, has previously advocated for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza in the nearly two-year-old war.
The PFA later posted a statement on its Facebook page attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, calling Al-Obeid "proof of the joy that can flourish in the hearts of people despite hardship."
"He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering," the statement read.
"His death is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who recognizes the power of sport to unite people."
Palestine Football Association claim hundreds of members killed during Israel-Hamas war
The PFA said on Saturday that 325 players, coaches, administrators, referees, and club board members in the Palestinian soccer community have died in the Israel-Hamas war.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel activists denounced Salah's comments in reply to his X post, asking why he did not make similar comments for murdered Israeli footballer Lior Asulin, who was killed by Hamas terrorists while attending the Nova music festival on October 7.