At the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, a tense stand-off unfolded between the heads of Palestinian and Israeli football associations. Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian football federation, refused to stand alongside Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman, despite efforts by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to broker a handshake.
A representative for the Palestinian FA stated that Rajoub could not shake hands with someone brought to "whitewash their fascism and genocide". Infantino urged both men to "work together to give hope to the children", acknowledging the complexity of the issues at hand.
Rajoub later explained his refusal, saying he would not shake hands with someone representing a "criminal like Bibi" (Benjamin Netanyahu) and criticised a "double standard policy". The Palestinian FA has an ongoing appeal against FIFA's decision not to sanction Israel over clubs based in West Bank settlements, a key point of contention for Rajoub.
This incident highlights the deep political divisions that continue to affect international football governance.
