THERE might be a few empty seats at Olympic venues this summer, but tickets for soccer matches involving hosts Brazil might now be a little harder to come by.

    That’s because Barcelona superstar Neymar looks set to play in his second Olympic Games after a deal was reached between his Spanish club and the Brazilian Football Confederation.

    A statement on the Barcelona website said the striker would take to the field in Rio de Janeiro in August but not play for his country in the Copa America tournament in the United States two months earlier.

    “F.C. Barcelona expresses its gratitude to the Brazilian Football Confederation and its president Marco Polo del Nero for accepting the Club’s proposal,” it said.

    FIFA rules obligate clubs to release players for international duty, except when it comes to the Olympics.

    Brazil were beaten by Mexico in the final in London four years ago.

    Neymar’s appearance in Rio will be a welcome boost for Olympic organizers struggling with sluggish ticket sales — less than half of available tickets have been sold with four months to go.  (SD-Agencies)