Palestinian federation escalates FIFA settlement dispute through legal appeal
Palestinian federation appeals FIFA's refusal to sanction Israeli settlement clubs, escalating international sports dispute.
Event / Geopolitics
FIFA Palestinian-Israeli Dispute
Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands or pose for photographs with Israeli football official Basim Sheikh Suliman at FIFA Congress in Vancouver. The dispute centers on FIFA's handling of Israeli clubs in West Bank settlements and an ongoing appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 May, 05:36 UTC
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What happened
Palestinian Football Federation president refuses handshake with Israeli football official at FIFA Congress
Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Federation, refused to shake hands with and pose for a photograph with Basim Sheikh Suliman, an Israeli football official, during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada. FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited both officials to pose for a photo together after they addressed delegates, but Rajoub declined the invitation repeatedly despite Infantino's insistence.
Palestinian Football Federation appeals to CAS over FIFA refusal to sanction Israeli clubs in West Bank settlements
The Palestinian Football Federation filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging FIFA's refusal to sanction Israel for clubs located in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The PFA contends that at least eight clubs operating in Israeli settlements should not be permitted to participate in competitions organized by the Israeli football federation.
UN experts call on FIFA to enforce international law regarding Israeli settlement clubs
In October 2024, several UN experts mandated by the Human Rights Council urged FIFA to respect international law regarding clubs operating in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank. The experts identified at least eight football clubs operating or developing in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank territory.
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