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Soccer-Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli counterpart at FIFA Congress

AL-MONITOR
Apr 30, 2026
Soccer Football - 76th FIFA Congress - Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada - April 30, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football association during the congress REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier
Soccer Football - 76th FIFA Congress - Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada - April 30, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football association during the congress REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier — Jennifer Gauthier

VANCOUVER, April 30 (Reuters) - Palestinian soccer federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman in a heated moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.

Both men were called to the stand by FIFA President Gianni Infantino but Rajoub declined to shake hands with Arab-Israeli Suliman.

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

Israel has denied committing genocide in Gaza.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)