Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Prankster showers Sepp Blatter with dollar bills at Fifa press conference

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is showered with cash by Lee Nelson during a press conference in Zurich

The Fifa president Sepp Blatter walked out of a press conference after being showered with dollar bills by the British comedian Lee Nelson.

Nelson, whose real name is Simon Brodkin, illegally gained entry to the Fifa headquarters in Zurich and poured dozens of banknotes over the stage around where Blatter was seated after announcing himself as a North Korean World Cup delegate.

“This is nothing to do with football … we need to clean here first,” Blatter said before leaving the stage while the money was cleared and Nelson was ejected from the building.

British comedian Lee Nelson
British comedian Lee Nelson, right, makes his point to Sepp Blatter. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Blatter was speaking at the Fifa executive committee meeting, which had been called to set the date for the extraordinary elective congress, which has now been confirmed as 26 February next year.

Last year, Nelson attempted to board the England World Cup plane and mingled with the players. Earlier this summer, the comedian interrupted Kanye West’s hotly anticipated headline slot at Glastonbury festival.

“I am still alive, the waves of the tsunami have not taken me away,” Blatter said on returning to the stage.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.