UEFA Faces Criticism Over Banner, Gaza, Nigerian, Other Children At Super Cup Final

newUEFA has faced criticism after a ‘Stop killing children’ banner appeared before Super Cup final amid Gaza conflict

UEFA has come under fire after a banner reading “Stop killing children – Stop killing civilians” was displayed before Wednesday’s Super Cup final between Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy.

The sign appeared on the pitch in front of players as they lined up before kick-off, prompting criticism over its perceived reference to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Campaign Against Antisemitism and Amnesty International were among those voicing concern.

Ian Bayley, senior lecturer in sports journalism at Staffordshire University, told BBC Sport: “On humanitarian grounds, the message has absolutely nothing wrong with it at all. On political grounds, it is very, very difficult.” He added that he was surprised UEFA was “putting itself in the middle of a very divisive debate.”

The pre-match display also included nine refugee children from conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Gaza. UEFA said two of the children – 12-year-old Palestinian girl Tala and nine-year-old boy Mohamed – had relocated to Milan for medical treatment. Tala, described as a young girl “with fragile health,” was transferred to Italy to receive care unavailable in Gaza. Mohamed lost both parents and was “severely injured following an air strike.” Both children joined UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin for the medal ceremony after PSG beat Spurs on penalties.

UEFA’s handling of the situation has sparked further criticism. Amnesty International’s Shaista Aziz said: “To name the crime but not the perpetrator is an act of cowardice. 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.”

The Campaign Against Antisemitism also criticised UEFA, claiming the organisation had not addressed the deaths of Jewish children or the hostages still held in Gaza. The charity said: “This selective outrage tells us everything about the double standard that still poisons European discourse on Jews.” The timing of the banner was also questioned, given Tottenham’s strong Jewish following.

The controversy follows criticism over UEFA’s social media tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, killed in Gaza, which Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah said failed to explain the circumstances of his death. Salah commented: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

Under UEFA rules, political, ideological, and religious messages are prohibited in stadiums before, during, or after matches. The governing body can impose fines or other disciplinary measures for violations, though UEFA declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport. In 2023, UEFA fined Celtic after supporters displayed Palestinian flags and banners during matches.

The banner appeared amid ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israeli military operations have since killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including 235 children reportedly dying from starvation and malnutrition. In October 2023, Ceferin sent a letter to the Israel Football Association expressing his “profound sorrow” over the violence in Israel following the Hamas attacks.