After both Rajoub and Israeli football representative Basim Sheikh Suliman addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited the two officials to stand beside him for a photograph.Rajoub declined repeatedly, despite several attempts by Infantino to persuade him to participate.

At one point, Rajoub could be heard saying, “We are suffering,” according to footage from the meeting.The incident followed renewed Palestinian pressure on FIFA over Israeli football clubs based in West Bank settlements, an issue that has remained a source of dispute for years within world football’s governing body.

The Palestinian Football Association has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA declined to impose sanctions on Israel over clubs located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian officials argue that such clubs should not be allowed to compete in leagues organized under Israeli football authorities because the settlements are considered illegal under international law by much of the international community.

In 2024, United Nations experts identified at least eight football clubs operating in what they described as “Israeli colonial settlements” and called on FIFA to fulfill its human rights responsibilities by addressing the issue.

Speaking to reporters after the congress, Rajoub urged FIFA to enforce its own statutes consistently.“Apply the statutes with fairness, with logic,” he said.He also cited the broader impact of the Gaza war on Palestinian sport, accusing Israel of destroying sports facilities and causing the deaths of Palestinian athletes and staff.

“What’s going on in Palestine is terrible, destroying all the Palestinian sport facilities in Gaza, the killings of hundreds of Palestinian athletes, employees I think it’s now the time to make justice,” Rajoub said.Referring to the Israeli delegate, he added: “The guy who spoke on behalf of Israel, he did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what’s going on.”

“I refused to shake hands. How can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?”FIFA has faced repeated calls from Palestinian officials and rights advocates to take action over Israeli settlement clubs, but the governing body has so far stopped short of imposing disciplinary measures.

The issue has added to wider political tensions surrounding international sport as the conflict in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories continues to affect athletes, federations and major sporting institutions.

The suggestion was attributed to Paolo Zampolli, a U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, who according to the Financial Times raised the possibility with U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino as a contingency plan should Iran withdraw.

Zampolli told the Associated Press the proposal was not political and framed it as a hypothetical scenario. “My request was for the Italian people and the American-Italian people,” he said, adding that Italy’s four World Cup titles could justify its inclusion.Italian officials rejected the idea.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said “it’s not possible” and “not a good idea,” while Luciano Buonfiglio said participation in the tournament must be earned on merit. Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti described the suggestion as “shameful.”Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup and is preparing to play matches scheduled in U.S. cities including Los Angeles and Seattle in June.

FIFA has maintained that Iran’s fixtures will proceed as planned and has declined to comment on proposals to alter the lineup.Speaking at the White House, Trump said he had not given the matter much thought but called it “an interesting question.”

He deferred to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said no U.S. decision had been made to bar Iranian players from entering the country.Rubio indicated that concerns, if any, would relate to non-athlete personnel accompanying the team.

“The problem with Iran would be, not their athletes. It would be some of the other people that they want to bring with them,” he said, adding that authorities might restrict entry to certain individuals.Iran’s embassy in Rome criticized the proposal, saying in a statement on X that football “belongs to the people, not to politicians,” and describing any attempt to exclude the team as unjustified.

Iran secured qualification through the Asian Football Confederation and has publicly affirmed its intention to participate. An Iranian government spokesperson said this week that the national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation.

”Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time, following a campaign that led to the resignation of its national team coach and football federation president.

FIFA regulations state that in the event of a team’s withdrawal, a replacement may be selected from another association, though the rules do not explicitly require the substitute to come from the same continental confederation.