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Blatter news conference at FIFA delayed by comedian

As he sat behind the desk, Blatter was approached by United Kingdom comedian Simon Brodkin – a performer known for his character Lee Nelson and his fondness for stage invasions.

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The comedian also tried to disrupt a performance by Kanye West at the Glastonbury festival in Britain last month, running onto the stage during a song.

He returned a few minutes later and made a quip about the incident.

The press conference had originally been called to announce details of the election to replace Blatter, which will not now take place until 26 February.

Gagg, who accompanies Blatter on International Olympic Committee business, said he will join Federation Internationale de Football Association senior vice president Issa Hayatou at the meetings.

The intruder was immediately escorted by security officials from the press conference, social media reports say, adding that the banknotes that showered Blatter were fake.

“We have now a president, we are going to elect a new president”, he clarified.

“Along with the rest of FIFA’s Executive Committee, I feel that the creation of a task force with internal and external members to deal specifically with reforms is an important step towards improving overall processes and transparency within the organisation”, said Platini.

Platini decided not to run in the May presidential election when Blatter beat Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term at the congress but then announced on June 2 that he would lay down his mandate at the “extraordinary elective congress” which will likely be held between December and February. Instead, Blatter and senior vice president Issa Hayatou cited the importance of the second-tier African Nations Championship – a tournament for little-known home-based players – hosted in Rwanda from January 16-Feb. 7.

Platini, the former France midfielder and president of Uefa, has established himself as favourite for the role after talks with senior figures at the Asian Football Confederation over the weekend.

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As Blatter announced his resignation but set no deadline for the election of his successor, skeptics suggested he was just trying to buy time to find a way to cling to power.

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