Gianni Infantino’s attempt to force a handshake between representatives of the Israel Football Association and the Palestine football federation backfired spectacularly and instead caused a heated moment at the Fifa Congress in Vancouver.
The Fifa president, who opened the congress bysaying football has a power to “unite the world”, called Jibril Rajoub, the president of the Palestinian football federation, and Basim Sheikh Suliman, the Israel FA Vice-President, onto the stage and in front of the other delegates in the room.
But Rajoub refused to stand next to Suliman when Infantino attempted to bring them closer together for a handshake and photo opportunity, and stood his ground when Infantino placed a hand on his shoulder and encouraged him to co-operate. Suliman was also motionless.
WhenRajoub refused to stand with his counterpart, he shouted “we are suffering” to the crowd. Infantino then approached Rajoub in a move to defuse the situation and spoke into his ear before they shook hands and he left the stage. Infantino also embraced Suliman before they all left the stage to applause.
Rajoub and Suliman had earlier addressed the congress and gave separate speeches. Rajoub used his speech to criticise Fifa’s decision to not sanction Israel over football clubs based in West Bank settlements. Last week, the PFA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against Fifa’s ruling.
Speaking to members of the media afterwards, Rajoub said: “The guy who spoke on behalf of Israel, he did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what’s going on. He is trying to whitewash the ugly face of this Israeli government. Genocide, ethnic cleansing. We had to suspend all sport activities because of the Israeli occupation, suffocation, restriction, killing, arresting and so on.
“Could I shake hands with someone representing a fascist and racist government, defending even the policies of this government? I don’t think that I have to shake hands. I don’t think that he’s a qualified partner to me. While I understand, I recognise that the Israeli Federation has the right to organise and develop sport but within their internationally recognised borders. Was he ready to say that for the Palestinians?”
Israel has denied committing genocide in Gaza. Asked what Rajoub said when he refused, Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi, who was in the room, told Reuters: “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering.”
Rajoub added: "I think Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps and bring people together but I think maybe he does not understand or does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people.”
In his speech, Suliman said: “I speak to you about all this because I believe football is supposed to build bridges between us and our brothers and neighbors, the Palestinians, and today I call upon everyone here to contribute in projects and initiatives to change the reality of today.
“The Israel FA has supported the existence of the Palestinian FA since day one and we still have the same position. We are proud of our squads and their squads. In football, there is no place for politics, and everyone has the right to play and compete. We are members of the world football association.”
Infantino responded to the lack of a handshake between Rajoub and Suliman by insisting he hopes to stage a “beautiful” Under-15s tournament that will feature both countries alongside all 211 member associations.
“Let me thank the two representatives from Israel and from Palestine, who have the same rights, duties and obligations, who are members of Fifa,” Infantino said. “We will work together, let’s work together to give hope to the children, let’s work together for that.”
The incident came after Infantino confirmed that Iran will compete at the World Cup and play its games in the United States as planned. “The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together,” he said.
Infantino also confirmed that he will be standing for re-election in 2027, after he was previously re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. “I'm honoured and humbled at the same time, and I want to tell you first, the 211 member associations, I want to confirm to you that I will be a candidate for the election of Fifa president next year.”
