Palestinian Football Officials Encounter Canadian Visa Complications Ahead of FIFA Congress

"We cannot afford to have Palestine's chair empty at the table." Those are the words of Susan Shalabi, Vice-President of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), speaking from Ramallah as she watches the calendar count down to FIFA's 76th Congress in Vancouver on April 30. Whether her colleagues will make it remains uncertain.

Initial reports this week suggested that three PFA officials had been flat-out denied Canadian visas. The actual situation appears more complex — and perhaps more concerning. Internal correspondence from FIFA's travel coordination team indicates that several applications have been "flagged" and are still pending "final determinations" from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). There have been no official rejections communicated by Canadian authorities. Instead, there's just an unsettling silence as the deadline draws near.

The current status of visa applications

According to a FIFA travel department communication obtained by CBC, PFA President Jibril Rajoub's application has been flagged, with FIFA still awaiting IRCC's determination. Meanwhile, Spanish attorney Gonzalo Boye — who was nominated as a replacement after PFA General Secretary Firas Abu Hilal encountered application difficulties — faces what appears to be an outright refusal. IRCC informed FIFA that Boye's application "will not move forward" due to a "criminal history." Boye spent eight years in a Spanish correctional facility for his involvement in a 1988 abduction linked to the Basque separatist organization ETA. Canada's admissibility regulations make no exceptions for FIFA-affiliated individuals.

Following standard protocol, IRCC declined to discuss specific cases. Their official position: every application undergoes individual assessment, and all candidates must satisfy eligibility criteria, irrespective of their country of origin. According to Shalabi, delegates from more than 10 nations are still awaiting visa approvals. The Lebanese Football Association has confirmed that its representatives have received their documentation and will attend as scheduled.

Shalabi, who carries a European passport, has already secured her travel clearance and will definitely be present. The uncertainty revolves around whether any of her PFA colleagues will be able to join her.

The significance extends beyond appearances

The FIFA Congress is far from a symbolic event. It represents the sole occasion when all 212 member associations can engage directly in international football decision-making. Missing it means forfeiting your only annual opportunity for direct participation. For the PFA, the timing makes this particularly critical.

The organization is currently engaged in a contentious battle regarding Israeli football teams based in West Bank settlements — a matter they've elevated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following sanctions imposed by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee in March that the PFA deemed wholly insufficient. In their official response, the PFA highlighted "systematic discriminatory practices" and behaviour "potentially constituting incitement to genocide." Their appeal is ongoing. The Congress provides a platform where this confrontation continues in full view of the football world.

Sports law analyst Kat Vilarev articulated the concern directly: "This should alarm anyone involved in football administration." When a member association faces obstacles attending Congress, regardless of the underlying cause, it establishes a troubling precedent. Whether this stems from processing delays, administrative complications, or other factors, the perception reflects poorly on a nation preparing to co-host the 2026 World Cup and requiring cooperative relationships with all 212 FIFA members.

"This situation benefits neither FIFA nor the World Cup," Shalabi observed. Her assessment rings true — and notably, neither FIFA nor Canada Soccer have issued any public statements addressing the matter.