Gaza: Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, called for expelling Israeli from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) competitions. 'Time to expel its killers from competitions, UEFA,' she said in a post on X, in response to UEFA's repost bidding farewell to a Palestinian football player who was killed in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Albanese emphasized the need to make sports free from apartheid and genocide, urging: 'Let's make sport apartheid and genocide free. One ball, one kick at a time.' Her comments came shortly after UEFA paid tribute to Palestinian football player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the 'Palestinian Pel©', in a post on X.
UEFA's post described al-Obeid as a talent who inspired countless children even in challenging circumstances. Al-Obeid earned the title 'the Palestinian Pel©' due to his remarkable talent, drawing a parallel with the Brazilian football legend Pel©, celebrated as one of the greatest players in history.
In the past month, thirty-nine athletes, scouts, and youth from the Palestinian sports and scouting movement have been killed, increasing the total number of those killed since the start of the ongoing genocide to more than 656.
