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.
Martyn50
Guest
Looks like this sport is becoming the laughing sport of the world
fadida
Guest
If you listen carefully you can hear Sepp muttering under his breath "brown paper bag, unmarked bills. How many times must I tell them?"
Josh
Expert
It's close to a work of art from Nelson I think.
Josh
Expert
"Assault" a pretty strong word for something that really is very non-violent. I don't really think there's any version of this story where Blatter is the victim.
Playmaker
Guest
Sepp looked really pissed off, so Nelson got the perfect response.
Wimpy men are boring!
Guest
Gosh. Someone on this site takes himself very very seriously! I also back AR on thus one, comedians would absolutley love having money thrown at them. Sounds spot on and not dumb to me!
juan dos
Guest
Football is for everyone. FIFA governs the game for the people. When you've overseen handing football's showpiece event to a country who's leader is openly homophobic and racist, and then back that up by handing the next World Cup to a country who has killed thousands of quasi-slaves, you probably haven't been doing your job properly. When you can make such a huge errors in judgment and still keep your job, when you still feign legitimacy and refuse to stand down (calling another election in Feburary isn't exactly standing down), it's probably fair to criticise him. And when the people can't critique Blatter because of the systemic corruption that props him up, I guess the only way to go about things is to venture outside of official means, and yes, that means ridicule. Media, information, they've always been viral. So since Blatter and his mates find accepting bribes profitable for the game... nothing (including migrant worker deaths) is out of bounds? Open slather as long as everyone gets paid.
The Gronk
Guest
Nordster you fail to see how much damage some paper falling on this gentleman could do. I have seen some serious paper cuts it my life and it took one maybe two bandaids to stop the bleeding.
Barto
Guest
Sepp wasn't impressed because anything less than a suitcase is an insult.
nordster
Guest
No one laugh until the MRI is conclusive, please people please!!! ;)
kazblah
Roar Guru
Right on the money, Kaks. Sometimes ridicule cuts through better than anything else. And no one is more deserving than Sepp.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Yes Ben, that is a classic photo & I think as Kaks says something that sums up Blatter & FIFA perfectly.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Really? That's what you gleaned from my posts? You need an education in clear thinking & comprehension. I've not mentioned a single word in defence of Blatter. I merely commented about an assault on an 79 year old man at a Press Conference.
AR
Guest
Those US$100 bills were absolutely real...fresh out of the oven from Sepp's private minting facility in Geneva.
Tigranes
Guest
Fuss is defending the indefensible...
Kaks
Roar Guru
You would hear a very different argument from Fuss which would include "SMELL THE FEAR" somewhere in his long and mind numbing rant had this been any president of any organisation from any other sport other than football.
The Minister
Guest
Loyal to the end. Someone should put together one of those "Downfall" parodies of Hitler's last days in the bunker with Fuss playing the role of Goebbels and Sepp as Hitler. That would be priceless. :D
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
You think that a comedian threw real money at Sepp? You really aren't very bright are you.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Again, you've added nothing to this discussion. Your sole purpose is to attack me. Then you'll start whining: "play the ball, not the man".
Midfielder
Guest
Ben Very true and the world understands what was meant ... Blatter refused to go to the Womens World Cup he knows he should go but for some reason is staying ...