Gianni Infantino Rebuffed at FIFA Congress as Palestinian Official Refuses Handshake Amid Bid for Fifth Term

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces embarrassment as PFA's Jibril Rajoub refuses a handshake in Vancouver. Infantino also announces his 2027 presidential bid.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

A Diplomatic Stand-off in Vancouver

The closing session of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver was marked by a visible breakdown in sports diplomacy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had attempted to broker a symbolic handshake between Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), and the leadership of the Israeli Football Association (IFA). However, the gesture failed when Rajoub refused to share the platform or acknowledge the Israeli delegation, leading to a palpable sense of unease throughout the assembly hall. Infantino, visibly flustered by the refusal, attempted to regain control of the session by pivoting to generalized statements regarding "joint work" and FIFA's mission to "give hope to children" in conflict zones.

The PFA Explains the Handshake Refusal

Following the incident, PFA Vice President Susan Shalabi spoke to Reuters to clarify the delegation's stance. She stated that Rajoub’s refusal was a principled rejection of what she characterized as an attempt by the "occupying entity" to use sports diplomacy to "whitewash fascism and genocide." Shalabi emphasized the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinian athletes and infrastructure, noting, "We are suffering." The PFA has spent the last year lobbying for the suspension of the Israeli FA from international competition, citing violations of FIFA’s neutrality and human rights statutes—a motion that FIFA’s executive council has repeatedly deferred for legal review.

Infantino Announces 2027 Presidential Bid

Amidst the geopolitical friction, Gianni Infantino took the opportunity to officially announce his intention to run for a new term as FIFA President. The elections are scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, in 2027. If successful, Infantino would be poised to lead world football’s governing body for a total of 15 years. This extension is made possible by a 2023 regulatory amendment which clarified that Infantino’s first three years in office (2016–2019)—during which he completed the term of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter—do not count toward the three-term limit stipulated in FIFA’s statutes.