Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli counterpart at Fifa Congress

Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli counterpart at Fifa Congress

Jibril Rajoub refuses to shake hands with Israel FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman after both were called to the stage.

Jibril Rajoub
Palestinian FA president Jibril Rajoub (right) walks off the stage during a heated moment at the Fifa Congress in Vancouver. (EPA Images pic)
VANCOUVER:
Palestinian football 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.

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