FINANCIAL WOES LEAD TO BT ACADEMY'S DEMISE

Young soccer players recently stranded can pursue litigation against owners, says expert

- NICOLA DANIELS

THE closure of BT Academy does not prevent the parents of the young soccer players who were recently stranded in Spain from pursuing litigation against the owners, says a legal expert.

BT Academy came under fire after a group comprising under-14, under-19, and girls' soccer teams were left stranded in Spain when return flights were not booked, despite each player paying R50 000 for what was supposed to be an all-expenses-paid trip to the Donosti Cup 2025.

So far, two parents have approached local police with fraud complaints, alleging that they paid the full amount for the trip but were never refunded for the unbooked return flights.

Police yesterday confirmed that despite the closure of the academy's doors, the two investigations were still ongoing.