British comedian Simon Brodkin faces charges of trespassing after gatecrashing the press conference of FIFA President Sepp Blatter ©Getty Images

A British comedian who interrupted the press conference of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and threw fake money at him on Monday (July 20) is to be charged by the Swiss authorities. 

Simon Brodkin, was arrested by police in Zurich following the incident at FIFA's headquarters but was released after questioning. 

"He will be charged for trespassing because he wasn't allowed to enter the building," a police spokesman said.

Blatter halted the news conference after Brodkin - whose stage name is Lee Nelson - threw fake banknotes at him.


Brodkin had walked up to Blatter's position behind a table at the front of the stage as he addressed the media and placed a wad of pretend US dollars on the table, saying: "This is for North Korea 2026".

Shortly after the stunt, Brodkin tweeted a photo of himself gatecrashing the event from the account @Jason9Bent, with the message: 'Excited to be at FIFA meeting Sepp Blatter to secure the #NorthKorea2026 World Cup."

"If there will be a trial it is still to be decided by the prosecutor," the police spokesman said. 

"Trespassing in Switzerland is just prosecuted by request like other minor crimes."

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Simon Brodkin joined Kanye West on stage during his performance at Glastonbury last month before being removed from the stage ©Getty Images

Brodkin, who also interrupted Kanye West's Glastonbury set last month, almost boarded England's plane en route to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and also attempted to warm-up with Manchester City players before a Premier League match against Everton in 2013.

On that occasion, Brodkin as arrested and charged with pitch encroachment contrary to the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

When the case came to court, the judge agreed to the charge being withdrawn and Brodkin was given a six-month conditional caution for the incident.

Last Novmber, during Stereo Kicks' performance on The X Factor, Brodkin invaded the stage pretending to perform alongside them.

He was escorted away by the show's floor manager



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