Blatter claims role in trying to remove Burundi president

ZURICH: Reveling in his international diplomacy role, former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has revealed he was asked by Switzerland’s foreign ministry last year to help persuade an African president to leave office.

Blatter offered Pierre Nkurunziza, the Burundi president and a soccer fan, an ambassador’s role with Fifa as the nation fell into violent turmoil, according to his new book, which was launched on Thursday.

Blatter’s intervention was supported by the United States, he claims in “Sepp Blatter: Mission and Passion Football,” and known to Secretary of State John Kerry.

“Mr. Kerry was involved,” Blatter said at a book launch party. “I am very happy that finally it came out. It shows that football is about more than kicking a ball.” EURO TICKETS ON SALE

PARIS: Fans who missed out in previous sales drives will have a final chance on April 26 as a platform for last-minute Euro 2016 tickets will open, organisers Uefa said on Thursday. The matches in question will be revealed the day the platform opens at EURO2016.fr.

This batch of tickets “comes from many different sources” UEFA said, including tickets taken back from illegal resales.

The tournament itself will feature 51 games across France at ten venues from June 10-July 10 with 24 nations participating in a revamped format. NEYMAR TO PLAY IN RIO

MADRID: Neymar will play for Brazil at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics but will skip the Copa America, Barcelona said Wednesday. The news was announced by the Catalan club after it trounced Deportivo La Coruna 8-0 in the Spanish league.