At the 76th FIFA Congress, a moment of tension emerged when Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Federation, refused to pose for a photo or shake hands with an Israeli representative.
The incident occurred when Gianni Infantino invited Rajoub and Bassem Sheikh Suleiman, vice president of the Israeli Football Association, to join him on stage.
According to reports, Infantino gestured for Rajoub to come forward and even attempted to guide him by the arm, but the Palestinian official stood firm on his position and declined.
Vice President of the Palestinian Football Association, Susan Shalabi, later stated that Rajoub made it clear he could not shake hands with the Israeli official.
In his address, Infantino urged both sides to work together, calling for cooperation within global football.
However, Shalabi criticized the move, saying Rajoub’s intended message—focused on rules and justice—was overlooked.
It is worth noting that the Palestinian Football Association has recently filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking action against Israeli clubs operating in settlements in the West Bank.