Sepp Blatter showered with fake cash before conference speech

A British comedian yesterday interrupted a press conference by Sepp Blatter in Zurich throwing paper money in front of the bemused FIFA president just as he was about to speak

Zurich: A British comedian yesterday interrupted a press conference by Sepp Blatter in Zurich throwing paper money in front of the bemused FIFA president just as he was about to speak.


A British prankster Simon Brodkin (right) holds fake dollar notes as FIFA president Sepp Blatter prepares for a press conference in Zurich 

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


Brodkin speaks to journalists before preparing to shower Blatter with fake cash ahead of a press conference at FIFA headquarters yesterday 

A visibly shaken Blatter said: "We have to clean here first. I will not be able to speak to you ladies and gentleman when we speak about football. This has nothing to do with football. I will be back in a few minutes."

'Lack of education'
The press conference was halted for a few minutes while the paper was cleaned up before Blatter returned and blamed the incident on "a lack of education". On his way out, Brodkin — stage name Lee Nelson — threw another bundle of notes at a clearly shaken Blatter, saying "here you go, Sepp".


An embarrassed Blatter looks on with fake dollar notes flying around him, thrown by Brodkin in Zurich yesterday. Pics/AFP 

After the stunt, Brodkin tweeted a photo of himself with a caption: "Excited to be at FIFA meeting Sepp Blatter to secure the #NorthKorea2026 World Cup." The comedian is not new to showing up to events uninvited. He invaded the stage during rapper Kanye West's set at the Glastonbury music festival last month.

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