With the world watching, Gianni Infantino wanted to produce a defining moment of his FIFA presidency.
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It did not go as he planned. In fact, it backfired.
After representatives from both the Palestine Football Association (PFA) and the Israel Football Association (IFA) had given speeches at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, Infantino invited both back on stage for a photo-op.
In a time of intense animosity between Israel and Palestine, the photo would have proven one of Infantino's most trusted clichés: "Football unites the world."
But awkwardness ensued. PFA president Jibril Rajoub refused to shake the hand of IFA vice president Basim Sheikh Suliman.
Instead, as Suliman watched on, Rajoub engaged in a heated dialogue with Infantino on stage for several minutes. Microphones were unable to pick up exactly what was said, but many at the event in Vancouver heard Rajoub's words: "We are suffering."
Infantino’s attempt at Israeli-Palestinian handshake failed.
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The FIFA president tried to get a picture with the Israeli and Palestinian delegates.
PFA president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand next to Israel FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman at the FIFA congress. pic.twitter.com/8OAURoUkjk
With Suliman and Rajoub looking on, Infantino returned to the podium in an attempt to clean up the situation.
"Let me please say something," Infantino said. "Let me thank the representatives from Israel and from Palestine, who have the same rights, the same duties and the same obligations, who are members of FIFA. We will work together – president Rajoub, vice president Suliman.
"Let's work together. Let's work together to give hope to the children. Let's work together for that. We have a beautiful U-15 tournament coming up where we will invite all 211 countries to participate. All the children of the world. Let's do it for that, please. You have my commitment. You have the support of the whole room."
During his speech, Rajoub hit out at FIFA for its decision not to sanction Israel over clubs based in the West Bank. The PFA filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport this week over the decision.
Suliman didn't directly address FIFA's decision over the West Bank, but instead highlighted the IFA's support for the PFA.
“The Israel FA has supported the existence of the Palestinian FA since day one, and we still have the same position; we are proud of our squads and their squads. In football, there is no place for politics, and everyone has the right to play and compete. We are members of the world football association," he said.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone afterwards, Rajoub explained his decision to not shake hands with Suliman.
"I think Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps,” Rajoub said. “He has the right to try to bring people together. But I think maybe he understands, but he does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian sport family.”
He added: “For me, sport is sport. And it’s a code of conduct for me that I should respect. But if the other side representing a criminal like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and he is in FIFA Congress and speaking on behalf of (Netanyahu) as if (Netanyahu) is Mother Teresa? How can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Palestine photo-op at FIFA Congress backfires on Gianni Infantino