Gianni Infantino Fails To Orchestrate Handshake Between Israel And Palestine Football Chiefs

FIFA president Gianni Infantino tried to orchestrate a handshake between the Israeli and Palestinian football federations at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, but the attempt backfired when Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to stand alongside Israel Football Association Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman.

“Toggle Play Palestinian football boss refuses Israeli handshake at FIFA event FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited representatives of the Palestinian and Israeli football associations to shake hands at FIFA’s annual congress”

Al Jazeera

The Times of Israel described the moment as heated, saying both men were called to the stand by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but Rajoub declined to be brought closer to Suliman.

Al Jazeera

The Straits Times likewise reported that Infantino put his hand on Rajoub’s arm and invited him with a gesture to come closer to Suliman, but “it was in vain.”

In the Reuters account carried by multiple outlets, Rajoub’s refusal was accompanied by a statement from Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi, who told Reuters, “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering.”

The New York Times reported that after representatives from both federations spoke to hundreds of delegates, Infantino asked both to come back to the stage, and Suliman heeded the command while Rajoub resisted.

The New York Times added that the exchange “did not result in a handshake between the Israeli and Palestinian representatives, nor a photo featuring the two,” and instead ended with Infantino urging participation in a future Under-15 tournament.

Rajoub’s refusal was presented by the sources as tied to FIFA’s handling of alleged violations connected to Israeli clubs in West Bank settlements, and to what Palestinian officials described as ongoing harm to Palestinians.

The New York Times said Rajoub’s impassioned speech lasted 15 minutes and focused on FIFA’s decision not to sanction Israel over football clubs in the occupied West Bank, saying, “At the 74th Congress in Bangkok, we asked FIFA, yet again, to address the participation of the clubs affiliated to the Israeli Football Association, but located in Palestinian territory without the approval of the Palestine Football Association.”

La Gazette du Fennec

The New York Times continued that Rajoub also said, “We also asked FIFA to address persistent discrimination and racism within the structure of Israeli football,” and it quoted him describing FIFA disciplinary findings as “grave violations” and “Those are not our words. They are FIFA disciplinary findings.”

The Straits Times reported that Rajoub said, “From my side, I still respect and follow the legal procedure but I think it’s time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned. The double standard policy should stop.”

In the same Reuters-derived account, Rajoub said, “I refused to shake hands. Sport is sport… for me that should be respected, but if the other side is representing a criminal like Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and speaking on behalf of Bibi as if Bibi is Mother Teresa, how can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?”

Across the sources, the refusal was also described as a rejection of normalization, with Middle East Monitor reporting that Rajoub said, “National dignity is not subject to protocol,” and that he shared a video on Facebook stating the refusal was “an affirmation that national dignity is not subject to protocol considerations.”

Infantino’s response in the sources centered on urging cooperation and framing the moment around children and football’s unifying role.

“Creating new perspectives since 2009 May 1, 2026 at 3:51 pm Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub makes a speech during the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on 17 May 2024 [MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images] Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with an Israeli counterpart during a FIFA meeting, saying: “National dignity is not subject to protocol,”Anadolu reports”

Middle East Monitor

The New York Times quoted Infantino saying, “We will work together, let’s work together to give hope to the children, let’s work together for that,” and it added that he spoke about “a beautiful under-15 tournament coming up, where we will invite all 211 countries to participate, all the children of the world.”

The Times of Israel also quoted Infantino’s line: “We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters.”

In the Reuters-derived accounts, Susan Shalabi described Infantino’s attempt as disregarding Rajoub’s speech, telling Reuters, “To be put in a position where to have a handshake after everything that was said, this negates the whole purpose of the speech that the general [Rajoub] was giving,” and she said, “He spent like 15 minutes trying to explain to everyone how the rules matter.”

The Straits Times added that Rajoub said, “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.”

The New York Times also reported that Infantino attempted to bring the two men together again, that he was forced to return to the podium, and that “In the end, Infantino hugged both men separately, and they exited the stage.”

While the core incident was consistent across outlets—Infantino inviting both sides to the stage in Vancouver and Rajoub refusing to shake hands—coverage diverged in emphasis, tone, and the surrounding political framing.

The Guardian described the scene as “awkward” and said Infantino attempted to orchestrate a handshake between Palestinian and Israeli delegates, with the backfire occurring when Rajoub refused.

The Guardian

The Independent framed the episode as Infantino’s “attempt at forcing Israel-Palestine handshake backfires,” describing Rajoub shouting “we are suffering” to the crowd and explaining that he refused to shake hands with someone representing a “fascist and racist government.”

The Times of Israel, meanwhile, emphasized the heated moment and included Israel’s denial of genocide in Gaza, stating, “Israel has strongly denied committing genocide in Gaza,” and it tied the dispute to accusations “repeatedly leveled since October 2023.”

The Straits Times also carried the Reuters quotes and added a detail about protesters targeting Rajoub and Shalabi as they left the Vancouver Convention Centre, including a protester asking, “Does that convince you that you have to support IRGC... because you're having a problem with Israel,” and Rajoub responding, “We're not supporting anyone, we just want the support of the international community.”

Middle East Monitor framed the refusal through Rajoub’s stated principle, quoting him as saying, “National dignity is not subject to protocol,” and it reported that Rajoub shared a video on Facebook stating the refusal was “an affirmation that national dignity is not subject to protocol considerations.”

Beyond the handshake incident, the sources describe an ongoing legal and disciplinary dispute over FIFA’s treatment of Israeli clubs linked to West Bank settlements, and they connect the congress moment to future appeals and sanctions questions.

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Middle East Monitor reported that Rajoub said the Palestinian association will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over FIFA’s decision not to take action regarding violations linked to Israeli clubs in illegal settlements, and it specified that “a formal appeal was filed on April 22, 2026.”

The Independent

The Straits Times reported that “Last week, the PFA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision not to sanction Israel over clubs based in West Bank settlements,” and it said FIFA in March would take no action “citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under public international law.”

The Straits Times also described FIFA’s disciplinary action in a separate matter, saying FIFA fined the Israel Football Association $190,000 on disciplinary charges relating to “discrimination and racist abuse,” plus “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play.”

In the New York Times account, Infantino’s handshake attempt was described as occurring “less than half-an-hour before confirming his intention to stand for re-election as FIFA president in 2027,” and it reported that Infantino said, “We have a beautiful under-15 tournament coming up,” with “all 211 countries” invited.

Taken together, the sources depict a dispute that is not resolved by a handshake gesture, with Rajoub’s camp pursuing CAS and FIFA’s disciplinary and sanctions posture remaining central to what comes next.