Newcastle cancels Dundee school 45 Barcelona tickets amid crackdown

Newcastle United has cancelled 45 tickets sold to a private school in Dundee for the club's Champions League home match against Barcelona on September 18 after supporters reacted with anger that large blocks of coveted seats had been allocated far from Tyneside. The tickets, which were offered as part of a school trip, were rescinded this week and the seats will be returned to the club's official sale process, Newcastle said.

Supporters said the revelation was especially galling after more than 100,000 fans queued online for a limited number of membersale tickets to the 52,300 capacity St James Park fixture. The High School of Dundee had advertised a matchday trip for up to 45 pupils priced at about 295 per student, covering coach travel, an overnight stay, meals and a ticket. The school said it bought the places in good faith after being approached by a provider and that it had been informed the tickets were cancelled by an approved supplier.

Newcastle initially said the 45 tickets were cancelled because they were linked to season ticket breaches and that the relevant season tickets had been cancelled with immediate effect and without refund. A club spokesperson said the seats...