VANCOUVER.- The president of the Palestinian Football Federation, Jibril Rajoubrefused to participate in a photo session with the Israeli soccer leader, Basim Sheikh Sulimanin a tense incident that occurred at the end of the FIFA Congress this Thursday in Vancouver.
After both Rajoub and Suliman addressed the delegates, FIFA President, Gianni Infantinoinvited both men to stand next to him.
However, Rajoub declined the gesture, rejecting Infantino’s repeated attempts to encourage him to participate at that time.
At one point during the meeting in the Canadian city, Rajoub could be heard saying: “We are suffering.”
The Palestinian Football Association recently appealed to the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS), the highest sports jurisdiction, due to FIFA’s refusal to sanction Israel due to the existence of football clubs based in West Bank.
The Palestinian Association maintains that clubs based in West Bank settlements should not be allowed to compete in leagues controlled by Israeli football authorities.
In 2024, experts from the United Nations They noted that at least eight football clubs had been identified as playing their matches in “Israeli colonial settlements”, and urged FIFA to “fulfill its responsibility to respect human rights”.
Speaking to the press this Thursday, Rajoub urged FIFA to “apply its statutes with equity and logic.”
“What is happening in Palestine is terrible: the destruction of all Palestinian sports facilities in Loopthe murder of hundreds of Palestinian athletes and employees… I think the time has come to do justice,” Rajoub said.
“The individual who spoke on behalf of Israel did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what is happening,” he added.
“I refused to shake his hand. How could I shake hands or take a photo with a man like that?” he asked.
River wins by the minimum
A header from Lucas Martínez Quarta In stoppage time he gave the 0-1 victory to River Plate visiting before Red Bull Bragantino and allowed them to regain the lead of Group H of the South American Cup.
Martínez Quarta scored the winning goal for the Argentine team at 90+3 minutes, when the goalless tie seemed immovable.
With the victory, River Plate assumes the lead of Group H with 7 points, one more than the Carabobo Venezuelan. Bragantino is third with 3 units, while Blooming Bolivian closes the positions with one point.
The match played in Bragança Paulista, interior of Sao Paulohad few scoring chances.
