Geneva - Saba:
The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, called on Sunday on the European Football Association (UEFA) to expel Israel from its various competitions.
Albanese said in a post on the X platform: "UEFA must expel Israel from its various sporting competitions, after the killing of former Palestinian national team star Suleiman Al-Obeid as part of the "genocide" in the Gaza Strip."
The European Football Association (UEFA) mourned former Palestinian national team star Suleiman Al-Obeid a few days ago after he was martyred while waiting for aid.
The official UEFA account on the X platform posted on Friday evening: "Farewell Suleiman Al-Obeid, the Pelé of Palestine".
Al-Obeid earned the nickname "Palestinian Pelé" in recognition of his great talent, a reference to the Brazilian football legend, considered one of the greatest players in history.
Martyr Al-Obeid, who began his career with his home club, Khadamat Al-Shati Club, also played with Al-Amari Club in the West Bank Premier League. He scored his first international goal for the Palestine national team against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship.
He also represented the national team in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Thirty-nine athletes, scouts, and youth were martyred in the past month alone, bringing the number of martyrs from the sports, youth, and scouting movement to more than 656 since the beginning of the genocide.