The Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) is being accused of “virtue signalling” and “empty gestures” after displaying a banner ahead of the Super Cup final in apparent support for Palestinian civilians and children without mentioning Israel or its ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
A “Stop killing children stop killing civilians” banner was unfurled ahead of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in Italy on Wednesday.
Two Palestinian refugee children also took part in the medal ceremony alongside Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin, following an invitation from the Uefa Foundation for Children.
Most fans interpreted the banner to refer to Palestinian victims of Israel’s war, which has killed over 61,000 people, the majority women and children.
“The message is loud and clear,” the European football’s governing body posted on X.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on
Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
But many argued that it was not.
“A call to who? Who is killing children? who is killing civilians?” asked Rohan Talbot, director of advocacy and campaigns at NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians.
“To name the crime but not to name the perpetrators is cowardice,” commented Amnesty UK.
“Vague, lofty slogans like these are lazy, meaningless, and ambiguous enough that even Israel can exclaim them as it slaughters children and civilians,” posted writer Tariq Kenney-Shawa.
“Enough bullshit virtue signaling. Calling Israel out by name and booting them from the @UEFA are bare minimum first steps,” he continued.
PR move
Others accused Uefa of platforming Palestinian refugee children to deflect from mounting calls by football fans and clubs to boycott Israel.
When reached out to for comment, Uefa directed MEE to a media release about the children invited to the ceremony.
“These two Palestinian children are refugees because Israel has been occupying their land and ethnic cleansing their people for 77 years – and you still won’t hold them accountable for it,” wrote sports journalist Leyla Hamed.
“You can’t platform them while protecting their aggressors.”
Others called it a “public relations” move, highlighting that Maccabi Tel Aviv would play in a European league match a day after the Super Cup finals on Thursday.
“Don’t you dare parade Palestinian children as PR cover while letting the very team tied to those who want them dead wear your badge,” posted journalist Ahmed Eldin.
Uefa’s posts also sparked renewed calls for “concrete action” from the league, with many urging the football body to ban Israel from competing.
Social media users denounced what they described as “hypocrisy”, questioning why Russia was swiftly banned over its invasion of Ukraine while Israeli clubs continue to compete despite its ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
“Russia was cut off IMMEDIATELY upon attacking Ukraine,” said one commenter.
“You’ve been dragging your feet TWO YEARS on Gaza and now just coming out with passive messages instead of being deliberate and decisive against Israel’s genocide.”
On Tuesday, the Uefa Foundation for Children announced it had expanded its humanitarian efforts to “relieve the suffering of children in Gaza”, partnering with three charities providing humanitarian aid.
The move was said by some social media users to be a result of “the Salah Effect”, referring to a post by the Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah on Saturday, who criticised the football association for paying tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid – who was killed in and Israeli attack while seeking aid in Gaza – without mentioning the circumstance of his death.
According to the Palestinian Football Association, at least 400 footballers have been killed by Israel in Gaza.
Nearly 300 sports facilities, including stadiums, gyms and club buildings, have been destroyed.
