Uefa displays ‘stop killing children – stop killing civilians’ banner before Super Cup final
Uefa has been widely criticised – including by Amnesty International – for continuing to allow Israel and Israeli clubs to compete in its competitions since the Israel Defense Forces began its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, despite banning Russia and its clubs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“To name the crime but not the perpetrator is an act of cowardice,” said Shaista Aziz of Amnesty International on the Uefa banner.
“The scale of suffering is unimaginable. Gaza now has one of the highest rates of child amputees in the world – a generation robbed not only of their lives and limbs but of the chance to play the very sport Uefa claims to champion.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism has criticised Uefa’s banner, claiming the governing body has not commented on the deaths of Jewish children in the conflict or the Jewish hostages still held in Gaza.
It also questioned the timing of the banner, with Spurs having a strong Jewish following.
In a statement the charity, which is dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism, said: “This selective outrage tells us everything about the double standard that still poisons European discourse on Jews.”
On Saturday, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was critical of Uefa posting a tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid on social media which failed to refer to the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said Obeid, 41, who was known as the “Pele of Palestinian football”, was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip the previous day.
After Uefa paid tribute to Al-Obeid in a post on X, Salah responded: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
According to Uefa’s own rules, political, ideological, and religious messages are prohibited in stadiums before, during or after matches.
Uefa declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport.
The governing body can impose financial penalties and other disciplinary measures for breaking these rules.
In 2023, Uefa fined Celtic after members of the Scottish club’s Green Brigade supporters group displayed Palestinian flags and Palestinian-supporting banners during matches.