Udine, Italy: The UEFA Super Cup stage in Udine transformed into a platform for a powerful anti-war message on Wednesday, just a day after Mohamed Salah’s public criticism of the football body’s silence over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Ahead of the PSG–Tottenham final, UEFA unfurled a massive banner reading, “Stop killing children, stop killing civilians,” sending a clear call for peace.
The gesture came on the heels of the UEFA Foundation for Children’s announcement of a new partnership with Médecins du Monde, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Handicap International. The initiative aims to deliver humanitarian aid to children in conflict zones, including Gaza, where lives continue to be shattered by violence.
Salah, the Liverpool star, had earlier taken to social media to question UEFA’s muted stance on Israel’s military actions. His comments were sparked by UEFA’s condolence post for Suleiman Al-Ubaidi, the ‘Pele’ of Palestinian football, whose death Salah highlighted as part of a larger, unaddressed humanitarian crisis.
Al-Ubaidi, 41, a celebrated player for both the Palestinian national team and clubs in Gaza and the West Bank, was killed last week in an Israeli attack while waiting in line with his children at an aid distribution center. His death has become a symbol of the human toll in Gaza, drawing renewed attention to the plight of civilians.
By raising the banner, UEFA signaled a shift towards acknowledging the calls for peace, blending football’s global stage with a message that extends far beyond the pitch.