Schoolkids given World Cup ticket boost

Jun 21 2006 By Emma Cullwick & Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

FOOTIE-mad Midland youngsters who missed out on a World Cup match because of an alleged ticket scam can soon realise their dream after all.

The 43 pupils and six teachers from North Bromsgrove High School will get to see a game after the Government stepped in and held talks with Fifa, soccer's ruling body, to secure tickets for the disappointed children.

The 14 and 15-year-olds were among 350 schoolchildren who travelled to Germany only to discover that a Shrewsbury tour company had allegedly fallen foul of a ticketing scam.

Activ4 was notified by its bank about irregularities and found that its supplier, Tickets For All, had failed to provide the tickets just hours before they were due to attend the Ghana vs Czech Republic match last Saturday as part of a five-day sports trip.

Andrew Mackereth, deputy head, said: "The children were devastated to say the least when they found out they couldn't see the game. They felt they had been robbed."

But No.10 has now announced a deal to fly the children to Germany after personal talks between sports minister Dick Caborn and Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

They plan to travel out on June 30 or July 1 to see a quarter final game.

* Have your say on this story at www.birminghammail.net/news/yoursay