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FIFA boss Sepp Blatter got an unwelcome surprise today when, during a press conference, British comedian Lee Nelson threw a wad of fake bills over his head.
Infiltrating the press conference by pretending to be a member of the media, Nelson – whose real name is Simon Brodkin – took a step up to the stage partway through the event with two large stacks of fake cash in hands.
He placed one on the table in front of Blatter and loudly announced, “This is for North Korea 2026”. Nelson wore a North Korean flag on his jacket.
Blatter called security to the issue but as Nelson was being dragged away he calmly tossed the second stack of cash into the air, letting it rain down over Blatter.
Nelson is known for appearing on stage unexpectedly. Earlier this year he interrupted a Kanye West concert in Glastonbury, running on stage and rapping along with West.
FIFA has been in the midst of corruption scale since May this year when seven officials were arrested at the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zürich, under charges of bribery, fraud and money-laundering.
Although Blatter himself is not among those to have been charged in the corruption scandal, there is no shortage of commentators who believe that his hands are not entirely clean in the matter.
Among other accusations, the corruption scandal has involved the suggestion that FIFA executives took significant bribes to sell their vote on the location of the FIFA World Cups for 2018 and 2022, and possibly 2014.
Hence Nelson’s ‘North Korea’ jibe – a suggestion that FIFA would be willing to vote for pretty much any country to host the next World Cup in exchange for the right amount of cash.
The press conference, held in Zurich, was to announce the dates for the election of the next FIFA President, with Blatter confirming he would step down from the position.
Baltter said “FIFA will have a new president” on February 26 when the election is held, though he has reneged on similar promises before.
Candidates are required to nominate at least four months in advance, giving them an October 26 deadline to do so. UEFA president Michel Platini is the frontrunner at this early stage to take over from Blatter.