A nine-year-old boy from North Tyneside, England, has found himself at the center of a viral story after being caught on live television celebrating during Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup semi-final win despite having told his school he was ill that day.
A passionate Newcastle United supporter, Sammy Scott skipped school earlier this month to travel with his father to London for the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle secured a 2-0 victory, goals that brought joy to fans and a particular burst of emotion from the young supporter.
Sky Sports cameras captured Sammy jumping and cheering after Anthony Gordon’s goal, broadcasting his excitement to millions of viewers. Family and friends quickly realised the pair had been shown on television, with videos and messages flooding in shortly after.
The timing of the appearance, however, had an unexpected consequence. Benton Dene Primary School, in which Sammy was enrolled, declared his absence as unauthorised. An email to his parents stated that his sick day would be reclassified because the media exposure showed him clearly at the match in London.
Sammy’s father, Mark, later shared his reaction publicly. He described the moment when his phone began buzzing with messages from people who had spotted them on various broadcasts. While he initially thought it was “brilliant,” the school’s response reminded him of the real-world implications of missing class.
The story has split opinion online. Football fans have rallied behind Sammy, with many describing his ordeal as a priceless memory of his childhood and even urging the school to “give the boy some slack,” while even former England forward Peter Crouch has taken to social media to defend the youngster.
Another perspective is that, by truanting the football match, the football fan is sending the wrong message, especially considering the controversy surrounding school attendance and educational standard.
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For now, that image of the nine-year-old in the midst of all those supporters, cheering on the success of his side, has become one of the defining images of the soap opera that has surrounded this season’s Carabao Cup.
