Israeli soccer officials expressed outrage on Wednesday after UEFA displayed a large banner on the pitch in Udine, Italy, during Wednesday’s European Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham.
The banner, reading “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians,” was unveiled before the game, prompting accusations of bias from Israel’s soccer community. UEFA’s failure to acknowledge the October 7 massacre in Israel, where civilians were killed, fueled the criticism, as no gesture was made for Israeli victims.
Instead, two Palestinian children, 12-year-old Tala and 9-year-old Mohammed, joined UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin on the podium during the medal ceremony, amplifying the controversy.
Israeli soccer figures condemned UEFA’s actions as hypocritical. “This is UEFA’s hypocrisy—they completely ignored the massacre, rape and murder of children in Israel,” one official said. “They’ve taken a side, and this is just the first step. This is the start line. Where were they on October 7?”
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The timing of UEFA’s gesture, days after Liverpool star Mohamed Salah publicly questioned UEFA’s post about the death of a Palestinian soccer player dubbed “the Palestinian Pelé,” drew further scrutiny. Salah’s post, asking, “Can you tell us how he died, where and when?” went viral, elevating the issue globally.
The banner’s message, widely interpreted as referencing Gaza despite not explicitly naming it, sparked debate in the Arab world. Jordan’s Roya News questioned the omission, saying, “Why wasn’t Gaza mentioned?
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UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin with Gazan children at European Super Cup medal ceremony
(Photo: Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
UEFA’s statement clarified the children’s presence. “Tala, a 12-year-old Palestinian girl with a fragile health condition, was transferred to Milan for medical treatment unavailable in Gaza since the war began,” it said.
“Mohammed, aged 9, who lost his parents in the war and was severely injured in an airstrike, joined her. He and his grandmother were relocated to Milan, where he is receiving treatment.” UEFA emphasized the banner’s intent, posting on X, “The message is loud and clear. A banner. A call.”
Additionally, UEFA’s Foundation for Children announced partnerships with three humanitarian organizations—Doctors of the World, Doctors Without Borders and Humanity & Inclusion—to provide aid to Gaza’s children amid the ongoing fighting.