Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli federation VP at FIFA Congress
During the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, the Palestinian FA chief confronted the Israeli federation's vice-president in a tense exchange. FIFA President Gianni Infantino intervened, gesturing for the two officials to come closer. The incident highlighted ongoing tensions between the football associations amid broader geopolitical conflicts.
- ▪The confrontation occurred at the 76th FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026.
- ▪FIFA President Gianni Infantino physically intervened by placing his hand on the Palestinian FA chief's arm and gesturing toward reconciliation.
- ▪Photographs captured the moment between Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian FA, and Basim Sheikh Suliman, VP of the Israeli FA.
- ▪The incident underscored persistent tensions between Palestinian and Israeli football officials within international forums.
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Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli federation VP at FIFA CongressBoth men were called to the stand by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who put his hand on the Palestinian FA chief's arm and, with a gesture, invited him to come closer to the Israeli FA VP.FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026.(photo credit: Don MacKinnon / AFP via Getty Images)
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.