FIFA president Gianni Infantino's staggering awkward attempt at Israel-Palestine handshake

FIFA president Gianni Infantino saw his public handshake between representatives of Israel and Palestine backfire. As the governing body supremo confirmed his intention to stand for a third full term next year, he attempted to orchestrate a public, on-stage, display between the Palestinian and Israeli delegates. President of the Palestinian Football Federation, Jibril Rajoub, refused to stand alongside Israeli FA vice-president, Basim Sheikh Suliman, as Rajoub addressed onlookers, shouting: "We are suffering." The war in Gaza is approaching its third year, which has escalated since it started in October 2023 with a surge in fighting in the West Bank, with British Red Cross figures in March 2026 reporting that the death toll is over 69,000, including 17,000 children and at least 170,000 casualties. Infantino, who will run for re-election in Rabat, Morocco next year, shrugged off the embarrassment and said: "We will work together, president Rajoub, vice-president Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters." Rajab declined to do his bidding after Infantino's attempt to act as an international statesman. Palestinian FA vice president Susan Shalabi told Reuters: "I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering." It was another high-profile moment of embarrassment for FIFA in a year of controversy for the governing body and another moment to forget for Infantino. The FIFA chief, who replaced Sepp Blatter in 2016, previously defended the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar with his infamous 'Today I feel' speech. The 2026 World Cup is just a matter of months away but the grand event, held across North America in Canada , Mexico and the United States, continues to be overshadowed by Donald Trump and the Iran War. The annual congress was held in Canada but Iran were the only country not represented. Figures from the Iranian football federation were due to attend the event in Vancouver but were the only nation absent from 211. Local Iranian news agency Tasnim previously reported that the delegation was turned back at border control. Meanwhile, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the national football team's participation in Group G at the World Cup is in doubt, with uncertainty over their involvement ahead of matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. Infantino reiterated his stance that Iran will play at the World Cup this summer. When asked, President Donald Trump said: "Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK. “Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work. "If they win we’ll have to worry about that. I’m going to have to worry about that one. “You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, ‘You do whatever you want.’ "You can have them, you don’t have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?”