Sepp Blatter Lecture Targeted by Protesters as Riot Police Guard FIFA President

Riot police were forced to intervene during a Sepp Blatter lecture in Switzerland that was targeted by protesters.

As reported by Reuters (via The Guardian), "at least one smoke bomb" was let off as a group of students moved in to disrupt the FIFA president's speech at the ETH university in Zurich. It is suggested "between 60 and 100" students forced entry but failed to make it into the lecture hall itself.

Swiss publication 20 Minuten published photographs of red smoke, hooded protesters and armored police entering the building. Students are also said to have held up banners saying "chase Blatter away" while transport around the university was disrupted.

Leo Correa/Associated Press

Blatter recently confirmed he will stand for a fifth term as FIFA president. The 78-year-old was first elected in 1998 and has since embarked on a controversial tenure as football's leading authority. His questionable moments include misogynistic quotes on women's football, allegations of bribery and considering the idea of abolishing draws from the sport, among other things.

Despite initially suggesting his current term would be his last, Blatter claimed that "my mission is not finished" upon stating his intentions to gain a final stint.

He doesn't have the support of UEFA chief Michel Platini, who recently claimed Blatter's power has become so absolute that he "is not the president of FIFA anymore. He is FIFA," according to a report by L'Equipe and translated by Reuters (via The Guardian).

Martin Rose/Getty Images

Owen Gibson of The Guardian suggests the students will provide Blatter with plenty to think about:

Although no injuries or arrests were reported during the incident, the protesters' decision to stage such an event indicates Blatter can expect plenty of intense opposition as momentum builds toward the 2015 FIFA presidential election.