 |
| Sepp Blatter |
Blatter offered Burundi president
Pierre Nkurunziza an ambassador's role in world football as the nation fell
into violent turmoil, according to his new book. Blatter's intervention was
supported by the United States, he claims in Sepp Blatter: Mission And Passion
Football, which has been published in German.
After Mr Nkurunziza said last
April he wanted an unconstitutional third presidential term, a bloody military
coup failed to remove him. Blatter said his offer to Mr Nkurunziza followed an
approach by Yves Rossier, the state secretary of the Swiss ministry.
"I proposed to the
president, who is a big football fan, in front of witnesses that if it would be
an advantage for his country and him, FIFA could deploy him as an ambassador
for football in Africa or in the whole world. Unfortunately, that never
happened," Blatter is quoted as saying in an interview section of the
300-page book.
Mr Nkurunziza went on to win a
disputed election in July and continues to lead his troubled nation. The Swiss
ministry did not immediately comment on the claim.