- Fifa President Gianni Infantino's attempt to orchestrate a handshake between the heads of the Israeli and Palestinian football federations at the Fifa Congress in Vancouver backfired.
- Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian football federation, refused to stand next to Basim Sheikh Suliman, the Israel FA vice-president, shouting “we are suffering” to the crowd.
- Rajoub later explained his refusal, stating he could not shake hands with someone representing a “fascist and racist government” and criticising Israel's actions in the region.
- Earlier, Rajoub had used his speech to criticise Fifa's decision not to sanction Israel over football clubs in West Bank settlements, while Suliman advocated for football to build bridges.
- Infantino responded by expressing hope for a future 'beautiful' Under-15s tournament featuring both countries, emphasising unity and giving hope to children.
IN FULL
