Protester showers Blatter with fake bank notes

A British comedian on Monday interrupted a press conference by Fifa president Sepp Blatter throwing paper money in front of Blatter just as he was about to speak.

Published: 20 July 2015 15:53 CEST

Protester showers Blatter with fake bank notes

FIFA said on Monday that a special election will be held on February 26th to replace long-term president Sepp Blatter (pictured). Photo: AFP

The 79-year-old Blatter was about to give details of a special election for a new president when he was interrupted by comedian and prankster Simon Brodkin who was immediately taken away by security guards.

Brodkin, who uses the stage name Lee Nelson and has a track record of barging in on high profile events, walked in front of Blatter as he started a press conference to announce the date of a presidential election.

Brodkin placed banknotes on Blatter's desk and then explained that he was representing a “North Korea 2026” bid for the World Cup.

As security guards took Brodkin away he shouted “here you go Sepp” and threw more banknotes into the air.

Blatter returned to his office for 10 minutes for the podium to be cleaned up. When the press conference started he apologised and blamed the incident on “a lack of education.”

“This has nothing to do with football,” he added.

After the stunt, Brodkin tweeted a photo of himself with the message: “Excited to be at FIFA meeting Sepp Blatter to secure the #NorthKorea2026 World Cup.”

The prank came as Fifa announced on Monday that a special election will be held on February 26th to replace president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter said on June 2nd, four days after winning a fifth term as president, that he would stand down as a major corruption storm hit world football's ruling body.

Fifa said on its Twitter account that the “extraordinary elective FIFA Congress” would be held in Zurich.

Candidates for the Fifa presidency have until October 26 to put their names forward.

So far only Brazilian football great Zico has officially declared himself, but UEFA chief Michel Platini will decide in the next two weeks whether to run in an election to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, a source close to the Uefa leadership said on Monday.

Brodkin, who has appeared on British television shows, is a repeat gatecrasher.

He invaded the stage during rapper Kanye West's set at the Glastonbury music festival last month and was wrestled off the stage by a security guard.

Brodkin dressed up as a member of the England football team and tried to board their pre-World Cup flight to the United States in 2014.

British comedian Simon Brodkin in a comedy sketch.