UEFA displays “stop killing children” banner in Super Cup final with no mention of Gaza
A banner displayed by UEFA ahead of Wednesday's Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur has highlighted the European football governing body's complex relationship with political messaging in sports.
Before kickoff at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy, a large banner was placed on the pitch that read, "Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians".
The message was held by nine children who are refugees in Italy from various conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine, and Ukraine, as part of a UEFA Foundation for Children initiative.
UEFA amplified the message on its official social media, stating, "From the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, the message is loud and clear".
From the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, the message is loud and clear.
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 13, 2025
A banner. A call. pic.twitter.com/HNjPja4OBk
The banner received much criticism on social media, as UEFA kept the message ambiguous with no mention of ‘Israel’, Gaza, and Palestine.
The sanctioned display comes just weeks after UEFA took disciplinary action against Paris Saint-Germain for fan-led political expression.
At the Champions League final on May 31, PSG supporters unfurled a banner that read, “Stop genocide in Gaza”.
On July 31, UEFA fined PSG €10,000 for displaying an “offensive message” and “bringing UEFA into disrepute”. This fine was part of a total of nearly €150,000 in penalties for various fan misconducts at the final.
Read more: “Salah Effect”: UEFA announces Gaza aid initiative for children after criticism
The Super Cup banner also follows public criticism directed at UEFA just days earlier.
The organization had posted a tribute to Suleiman Al-Obeid, a former Palestinian footballer killed in Gaza, referring to him as the “Palestinian Pelé”.
High-profile figures, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and former BBC presenter Gary Lineker, publicly challenged UEFA, with many of the thousands of comments questioning why the tribute omitted details about the circumstances of his death.
Al-Obeid, a husband and father of five, was killed by ‘Israel’ while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip.
