Football thugs ‘throw beer on terrified pupils during school trip in France’
FRENCH football fans jumped on a bus and threw beer over a group of Manchester schoolchildren during a school trip near Paris, it has been claimed.
The men are understood to have burst onto a coach carrying pupils from Co-op Academy Failsworth in Oldham just before the World Cup Final on Sunday.
Relatives said the men soaked the frightened children with beer and slapped some on the head after opening the doors of the vehicle as it was in traffic near the French capital.
The incident is understood to have happened on Sunday afternoon, shortly before France beat Russia.
The grandmother of a pupil on the bus, who has asked not to be named, said: “I got a message from my granddaughter on Sunday saying a load of men had got on the bus when they were stood in traffic somewhere outside of Paris.
“These men were shouting and slapping the kids on the head. Then they soaked them all in beer. One of the kids was crying.
“I think they were football fans. It was just before the World Cup final on Sunday.
“We just want to know how these men were able to get on the coach in the first place. They must have forced the door open.”
The group is understood to have been en route to Disneyland Paris as part of the end of term trip. Croatia in the final in
“It was supposed to be a trip of lifetime,” the relative added.
Leaders at the Co-op Academy Failsworth confirmed the incident happened, but insisted none of the youngsters had been harmed.
The group were due to arrive back in Greater Manchester last night.
A school spokesman said: “The safety and security of all students on schools trips is our number one priority. It is most regrettable that this incident occurred but staff acted swiftly to minimise the situation. Today the teachers on the trip have reported that all the students are fine and the programme will continue as planned.”
Celebrations erupted across France after the team – featuring United’s Paul Pogba – beat Croatia 4-2 in the final.