Tension emerged during the 76th FIFA Congress when Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand alongside and shake hands with Israeli Football Association vice president Bassem Sheikh Suleiman on stage.
The incident occurred after FIFA president Gianni Infantino invited both officials to join him during the congress proceedings.
According to reports, Infantino signalled Rajoub to come closer and also attempted to persuade him by holding his arm, but the Palestinian official maintained his position and declined to participate in the joint appearance.
Vice president of the Palestinian Football Association Susan Shalabi later said that Rajoub had made it clear he could not shake hands with such a person.
Following the incident, Gianni Infantino urged both sides in his address to work together and promote cooperation through football.
However, Susan Shalabi criticised the move, saying Rajoub’s speech had focused on laws and justice but those concerns were overlooked during the event.
The development comes shortly after the Palestinian Football Association filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking action against Israeli football clubs operating in settlements in the occupied West Bank.