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Palestinian football chief slams Israeli official at FIFA meeting
TL;DR
Palestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub declined a photo opportunity with Israeli official Basim Sheikh Suliman during FIFA's Congress. The incident highlighted ongoing tensions between the two football associations.
Key points
- Jibril Rajoub is the President of the Palestine Football Association.
- Basim Sheikh Suliman is the Vice-President of the Israel Football Association.
- The incident occurred at FIFA's Congress.
- Rajoub declined a photo opportunity with Suliman.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino was involved in the invitation.
Mentioned in this story
FIFAJibril RajoubBasim Sheikh SulimanPalestine Football AssociationIsrael Football Association
FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub and Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman to stand alongside him, but Rajoub declined (Don MacKinnon)
(Don MacKinnon/AFP/AFP)
Palestinian football federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to take part in a photo opportunity with Israel soccer official Basim Sheikh Suliman in a tense incident at the end of FIFA's Congress on Thursday.
After both Rajoub and Suliman had addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited both men to stand alongside him.
However Rajoub declined the gesture, refusing repeated attempts by Infantino to encourage him to participate in the moment.
At one point Rajoub could be heard to say: "We are suffering."
The Palestinian Football Association recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over FIFA's refusal to sanction Israel over football clubs based in the West Bank.
The PFA maintains that clubs based in West Bank settlements should not be allowed to compete in leagues controlled by Israeli football authorities.
In 2024, United Nations experts said at least eight football clubs had been identified as playing in "Israeli colonial settlements" and called on FIFA to "fulfil its responsibility to respect human rights".
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rajoub called on FIFA to "apply the statutes with fairness, with logic."
"What's going on in Palestine is terrible, destroying all the Palestinian sport facilities in Gaza, the killings of hundreds of Palestinian athletes, employees... I think it's now the time to make justice," Rajoub said.
"The guy who spoke on behalf of Israel, he did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what's going on.
"I refused to shake hands. How can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?"
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Q&A
Why did Jibril Rajoub refuse to stand with Basim Sheikh Suliman at FIFA?
Jibril Rajoub refused to participate in the photo opportunity due to ongoing tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli football associations.
What was the context of the incident at FIFA's Congress?
The incident occurred after both Rajoub and Suliman addressed delegates at FIFA's Congress, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited them to stand together.
Who are the key figures involved in the FIFA Congress incident?
The key figures are Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football Association, and Basim Sheikh Suliman, Vice-President of the Israel Football Association.