Palestinian FA boss blasts Infantino's failed FIFA Congress handshake debacle 'absurd'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) tried at length to get Palestinian FA President Jibril Rajoub (R) to shake hands with Israeli FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman on Thursday -Credit:Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images The 76th FIFA Congress, held in Vancouver, Canada, on Thursday, took an extremely awkward turn courtesy of president Gianni Infantino as he attempted to get Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman and Palestinian FA President Jibril Rajoub to shake hands on stage in front of a crowd of delegates. However, despite two minutes of pleading from Infantino, Rajoub refused to get within a few meters of Suliman . Rajoub ultimately left the stage amidst a backdrop of deafening silence from the crowd, with Infantino having failed in his desired role as peacemaker, looking to coerce the two into what he likely saw as an opportunity to create a photograph for the ages, symbolizing peace and the easing of tensions.

New Jersey Governor calls out FIFA over eye-watering World Cup train fares Donald Trump calls Gianni Infantino 'a piece of work' after FIFA boss confirms Iran's World Cup fate It has since been reported that Infantino was told by Rajoub, 'We are suffering' -Credit:Rich Lam - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Infantino went on to say, “Thank you very much to both representatives. These are, of course, as we know, very complex matters. But we never give up on any challenge, and we will continue on this as well because all of the children from Palestine and from Israel deserve the same hope in the future.

” It was later revealed to Reuters by Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi that Rajoub had told Infantino on stage, “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide. We are suffering. ” It is worth noting that Israel has repeatedly and vehemently denied committing genocide within the city of Gaza.

Following the conclusion of the Congress, Shalabi did not hold back as it pertained to Infantino’s actions, saying, “To be put in a position where to have a handshake after everything that was said, this negates the whole purpose of the speech that the general (Rajoub) was giving. “He spent like 15 minutes trying to explain to everyone how the rules matter, how this could easily become a precedent where the rights of member associations are violated with impudence, and then we'll just wrap this under the carpet. It was absurd.