On a warm evening in Udine, football took a rare political turn. Before the UEFA Super Cup kicked off between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, players lined up as a large white banner was unfurled across the pitch.
Its message was simple, stark and impossible to ignore: “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians.”
The gesture, made by UEFA, was a departure from its usual reluctance to comment on political issues. For some, it was also a sign that the war in Gaza has reached a breaking point in the European public conscience.
“This shows we are at some sort of tipping point,” said Bassil Mikdadi, founder of the website Football Palestine, speaking to Al Jazeera. “Even those in power, who have tried to provide diplomatic cover to Israel, are starting to see that there needs to be a change.”
The statement came just days after UEFA faced sharp criticism over its tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza earlier this month. Critics accused the governing body of avoiding mention of how he died.
Mikdadi believes UEFA should have gone further by naming those responsible. “They don’t even want to call out the perpetrators by name,” he said.
UEFA has not issued a detailed explanation for its choice of words, and the message avoided direct political attribution. But its visibility, broadcast live across Europe, was clear.
The decision reflects the increasing difficulty for major organisations, including sports bodies, to remain silent on Gaza. Public protests, political debates and mounting civilian casualties have pushed the issue into spaces once thought immune to such discussions.
For now, the banner in Udine stands as a rare moment where football’s global stage was used to speak to a humanitarian crisis. Whether it signals a deeper change in UEFA’s approach—or remains a one-off—may depend on how far public sentiment shifts in the months ahead.
About the Author
