Bomb threat made against FIFA congress in Zurich

Martin Rogers | USA TODAY Sports

An anonymous bomb threat was made against the FIFA congress in Zurich hours before soccer’s governing body was due to host its presidential election on Friday.

Police officers searched the arena during the lunch break following the first stage of FIFA’s annual meeting before giving the all clear for proceedings to resume after a short delay.

“I can confirm there has been a bomb threat against the FIFA congress,” a Zurich police spokesperson said. “Officers have been dispatched.”

Upon resumption of the meeting, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed that an inspection of the venue had taken place as a precaution but had found no cause for concern.

Current president Sepp Blatter was set to seek a fifth term in office, with only one challenger, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, running against him.

Earlier, the meeting was briefly halted when two pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted Blatter’s opening speech and waved red cards at the president. Palestine opposes Israel’s membership of FIFA as part of the ongoing dispute in the region.