Palestinian And Israeli Football Officials Refuse To Shake Hands At FIFA Congress
A tense moment unfolded at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver as Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman, Vice President of Israel’s soccer governing body, after both addressed delegates on stage. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called on both officials to “work together” and give hope to children in Palestine and Israel, but Rajoub protested loudly and walked off stage, highlighting the deep political divide. Infantino acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying all children from Palestine and Israel “deserve the same hope in the future.” The incident has once again brought the Israel-Palestine conflict into the global football spotlight, with tensions spilling into one of FIFA’s biggest international gatherings.
