World Cup dream comes true for UK ticket scam pupils
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-22 09:10
Hundreds of British schoolchildren whose dreams of going to a World Cup game
in Germany were shattered by an international ticket scam will now get to see a
match, the government said on Wednesday.
FIFA will supply quarter-final tickets to some 350 pupils who were left
devastated at the weekend after travelling to Germany, only to find their match
tickets did not exist.
FIFA President Sepp
Blatter [filephoto] |
The children, aged 11 to 16, and some of their parents paid about 400 pounds
each to a UK-based agency and an Internet site for their trip.
Police said the pupils had been stung by a 60,000 pound ticket fraud and that
a woman was arrested on Wednesday.
Sports minister Richard Caborn personally lobbied FIFA President Sepp
Blatter, and UK Premier League Chairman Dave Richards also stepped in to ensure
the pupils could see a game.
"We were all upset at how devastated the children were when they were turned
away from matches after falling victim to a World Cup ticket scam through no
fault of their own," Caborn said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I am delighted that 350 young football fans will now have the time of their
lives at the World Cup," he added.
Caborn said other sponsors would help get the out-of-pocket children to the
matches, which could include an England game if the squad beats Ecuador to make
it into the quarter-finals.
Thames Valley police said most of the tickets were ordered through an
Internet site that was "totally fraudulent and no tickets ever existed."
The woman, in her 40s, had been arrested in Slough on suspicion of obtaining
money by deception.
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