FIFA President's Attempt To Get Israeli, Palestinian Officials To Shake Hands Turns Tense, Video Viral

Last Updated:May 01, 2026, 16:43 IST

At the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Gianni Infantino's awkward attempt for a Israel-Palestine handshake fell flat on its face as Jibril Rajoub refused.

A tense exchange unfolded at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver when an attempt by the organization’s president Gianni Infantino to bring Israeli and Palestinian football officials together on stage backfired.

Israel and Palestine’s war has raged on for decades, leading to hundreds of thousands of casualties in the last three years.

Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub and the vice president of Israel’s soccer governing body, Basim Sheikh Suliman, both addressed delegates separately. Following their speeches, Infantino tried to encourage a symbolic handshake between the two.

However, Rajoub declined the gesture, stepping away from Suliman in a visibly strained moment.

According to reports, the two officials maintained distance on stage, with Rajoub expressing his objections away from the microphones before exiting. He was seen speaking off-mic as Infantino approached him, briefly embracing the FIFA president before leaving.

At one point, Rajoub could be heard to say: “We are suffering."

Afterward, Infantino addressed the gathering, urging both sides to find common ground. He emphasized the importance of cooperation, calling on the officials to work together ‘to give hope to the children’ and promote unity through football.

Asked what Rajoub said when he refused, Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi, who was in the room, told Reuters news agency: “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide! We are suffering."

Rajoub also used his platform to press FIFA on allegations made by the Palestine Football Association regarding Israel’s compliance with anti-discrimination rules. He argued that Israeli clubs operating in West Bank settlements violate FIFA statutes and reiterated that the matter had been escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA opted against suspending Israel earlier this year.

He went further, questioning Israel’s standing within world football’s governing body and calling for sanctions, citing what he described as breaches of FIFA regulations and human rights concerns.

Representing Israel’s position, Yariv Teper, acting general secretary of the Israel Football Association, struck a more conciliatory tone. He stated that the Israel Football Association remains committed to collaboration and to using football as a tool for building a better future across regions.

Gianni Infantino’s controversial tenure

Infantino’s tenure as FIFA President is heavily criticized for prioritizing profit and political power over the integrity of the game. Despite overseeing massive financial growth, he faces intense scrutiny for his handling of human rights, governance, and aggressive commercialization.

Much of the backlash stems from his close ties to autocratic regimes. He has consistently defended World Cup hosts with severe human rights issues, including minimizing migrant worker exploitation in Qatar and relaxing bidding rules to effectively hand the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia.

Fan groups also accuse him of turning football into an elite corporate event. Infantino recently defended astronomical ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, brushing off complaints that everyday fans are being priced out. His perceived arrogance was further highlighted when he demanded a presidential-style police motorcade in Vancouver, which local authorities rejected.

Critics frequently call out his tone-deaf geopolitical stunts. These include awarding a newly created “FIFA Peace Prize" to Donald Trump in 2025.

Finally, despite being elected to clean up FIFA’s corruption, Infantino is accused of consolidating power. He successfully altered FIFA statutes to extend his term limits until 2031 and has been criticized for dismantling independent ethics oversight within the organization.

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