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Palestinian official refuses to greet Israeli representative at FIFA congress

2 sources · 01 May 2026 · Share coverage ·

Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Israeli Federation vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30. FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempted to facilitate a greeting between the two officials, but Rajoub declined.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict extends into football through disputes over Israeli clubs operating in West Bank settlements, territory claimed for a future Palestinian state. UN experts identified at least eight Israeli football clubs playing in colonial settlements, demanding that FIFA fulfill its responsibility regarding human rights.

1. What we know (2)

Jibril Rajoub refused to greet Basim Sheikh Suliman during the FIFA congress in Vancouver

2 sources Brasil de Fato Poder360

Gianni Infantino attempted to facilitate a greeting between the two officials

2 sources Brasil de Fato Poder360
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (1)

The Palestinian federation's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

Reported by: Poder360
Did not cover: Brasil de Fato

Conflicting versions (1)

Who made the statements about refusing the greeting

1 source — "The statements were attributed directly to Jibril Rajoub": Brasil de Fato
1 source — "The statements were made by Palestinian federation vice-president Susan Shalabi": Poder360
3. What we don't know yet

No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.

All sources

2