US EditionPalestinian Football Chief Slams Israeli Official at FIFA Meeting
Jibril Rajoub says FIFA must sanction Israel over West Bank settlement clubs, and the Palestinian Football Association has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- On Thursday, Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to stand alongside Israel Football Association Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino's attempt to broker the interaction.
- The PFA has long argued that the Israel Football Association violates FIFA statutes by permitting clubs based in West Bank settlements to compete in its national league, a grievance raised over the past 15 years.
- Last week, the PFA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA's decision not to sanction Israel, while FIFA separately fined the IFA $190,000 for unrelated discrimination and racist abuse charges.
- Rajoub defended his refusal, stating he could not shake hands with someone "representing a fascist, racist government," while PFA Vice-President Susan Shalabi supported the stance as a rejection of efforts to "whitewash" Israeli policies.
- During the roll call, Iran was noted as "absent" after Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and his delegation were turned away at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Tuesday despite holding valid visas.
106 Articles
106 Articles
At the closing of the FIFA congress, Infantino tried to promote a moment of union, but gesture eventually generated tension with the president of the Palestinian Federation to accuse Israel of "genocide".
FIFA's president tried to get Israel and Palestine soccer officials to shake hands. He failed badly.
The head of Palestine's soccer authority gave Infantino an earful on stage, with the whole FIFA Congress watching in person and many more people watching online.
FIFA's 76th Congress in Vancouver, Canada, stressed that the upcoming World Cup in North America will bring people together in a spirit of harmony and respect, and Gianni Infantino announced his candidacy for re-election, FIFA said. At the congress, he attempted to achieve a symbolic handshake between the Israeli and Palestinian representatives of the football associations, but his attempt was thwarted when the Palestinian representative left th…
Infantino's awkward Israel-Palestine handshake attempt backfires spectacularly
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempted to orchestrate a public handshake between representatives of Israel and Palestine at the governing body's annual congress in Vancouver, but the Palestinian delegation refused
Infantino tried to stage an Israel-Palestine handshake at the Fifa Congress. He failed
Fifa Congress: Infantino tried to stage an Israel-Palestine handshake. He failed Submitted by Dalia Anis on Fri, 05/01/2026 - 11:33 'I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide,' the Palestinian Football Association chief reportedly said Fifa President Gianni Infantino clasps hands with the president of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, as the vice president of the …
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