FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israel Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)
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Palestine FA president Jibril Rajoub was seen refusing to shake hands or even stand next to Israel FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman during a tense exchange at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.
Both officials were invited to the stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but the Palestinian representative resisted attempts to bring him closer to his Israeli counterpart.
Infantino briefly placed a hand on Rajoub’s arm and motioned for him to step forward, but Rajoub did not comply.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the Semafor World Economy 2026 conference in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2026. (Kent Nishimura/AFP)
The Palestinian FA, led by Rajoub, has long pushed for Israel to be suspended from international football competitions.
Rajoub defended his decision, saying he remains committed to formal processes but believes stronger action is needed.
“I respect and still follow the legal procedure, but I think it is time to understand that Israel must be sanctioned. The double standard policy should stop,” Rajoub told The Times of Israel.
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A fan displays a Palestinian flag during the Nations League group game between France and Israel on November 14, 2024. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)
“I think Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps and bring people together, but I think he may not understand or know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people.”
He added that while Infantino’s intentions may have been to promote unity, he may not fully understand the depth of Palestinian suffering.
After the exchange, Infantino addressed the room and called for cooperation.
“We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex cases,” Infantino said.
Speaking just before the incident, Suliman emphasized the unifying role of sport.
“In football there is no place for politics,” said Suliman. “Everyone has the right to play and compete. We teach children values such as respect, equality and love for others, and we hope that the next time we meet, the situation will be better. We extend a hand to the Palestinian FA in the spirit of these shared values.”
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Players of Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur line up before the UEFA Super Cup soccer match in Udine, Italy, on August 13, 2025. (Denes Erdos/AP)
UEFA was reportedly heading for one vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September, but the proposal was put on hold. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that no action would be taken against the team on 3 October following a historic peace proposal by the President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.
