Hundreds of schoolchildren who missed out on
seeing a World Cup match after an alleged ticket scam will now get to a game
after the British government twisted FIFA's arm, Prime Minister
Tony
Blair's spokesman has said.
Britain's Prime
Minister Tony Blair drinks from a mug, with England's St George's cross on
it, during a phone-in on BBC Radio 5 Live in London June 19,
2006. [Reuters] |
Blair had pledged to try
his hardest to get the 350 heartbroken pupils back to Germany to watch another
match after their trip to the World Cup last weekend ended in disaster.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport then played down their chances of
getting their hands on so many tickets -- but now the pupils are set to see a
quarter-final game, hopefully England if the national team makes it that far.
Sports Minister Richard Caborn was charged with the task -- and he went right
to the top, bending the ear of FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
"They are now going to watch a game as a result of what has been an
incredible effort by Dick Caborn," Blair's spokesman said.
"He has been working virtually non-stop on this and has talked personally to
Sepp Blatter of FIFA, to whom we are incredibly grateful -- and to the Premier
League's (chairman) Sir Dave Richards.
"As to which game, I think that's still being sorted out. FIFA have come up
with the tickets and that's why we are very grateful to them.
"It is as a result of direct intervention by Dick Caborn."
The sports minister said later: "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.
"I am extremely grateful to FIFA president Sepp Blatter for his swift and
generous response.
"I am delighted that 350 young football fans will now have the time of their
lives at the World Cup."
Among those affected by the alleged con, 23 boys from Mayville High School in
Portsmouth, on the southern English coast, had travelled to Germany but missed
out on seeing Ghana beat the Czech Republic 2-0.
Headteacher Linda Owens said the children would be thrilled.
"This is amazing news, absolutely fantastic. It's wonderful, the boys will be
over the moon," she said.
"They were so disappointed at not being able to see the game and this will
put them on a high again."
The youngsters had paid 400 pounds each for the trip.
Thames Valley Police in Slough, west of London, arrested a woman in her 40s
and a 38-year-old man in connection with the alleged ticket scam.
They were arrested on suspicion of obtaining monies by deception, involving a
sum of about 60,000 pounds paid for non-existent World Cup tickets.
