From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Two children from Gaza to take part in ceremony of European soccer Super Cup
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European soccer’s governing body says two children from the Gaza Strip will take part in the medals ceremony after the Super Cup match tonight between France’s Paris Saint-Germain and England’s Tottenham Hotspur.
The Super Cup is the annual early-season match between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League.
“12-year-old Tala is a young Palestinian girl with fragile health who was transferred to Milan to receive appropriate medical care, as the adequate equipment was lacking in Gaza after the start of the war,” UEFA says.
“Tala will be joined on the podium by 9-year-old Mohamed, who lost his parents during the war and was severely injured following an airstrike. Due to the seriousness of his condition and his young age, Mohamed and his grandmother were fortunate enough to leave Gaza and were welcomed in Milan, where Mohamed is currently undergoing medical treatment,” the statement says.
The two were also part of a group of nine children who are refugees in Italy from Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Gaza and Ukraine participated in the opening ceremony, displaying a banner “STOP KILLING CHILDREN – STOP KILLING CIVILIANS.”
The move comes after UEFA was criticized this week for a tribute to the late Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” after European soccer’s governing body failed to reference the circumstances surrounding his death this week.
The Palestine Football Association said that Al-Obeid, 41, was killed by Israeli fire targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Israel denied any involvement.
The Times of Israel Community.