Teenager donates his euro notes to charity

A Dundee teenager is giving up the chance to see Scotland kick off the European Championships in Germany – in aid of good causes.

Mitchell Carling has decided to raffle off its tickets to the tournament curtain-raiser in Munich on June 14, with the proceeds going to diabetes and autism charities.

The 16-year-old told BBC Scotland News his friends thought he was “crazy” for the decision.

However, he hopes that the draw will instead serve a “common good”.

Mitchell had already raised thousands of pounds for charity when he raffled off tickets to attend the 2022 Europa League final in Seville, where Rangers lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.

After securing tickets for the Scotland v Germany match, he decided to repeat the fundraising idea for the Euros, with the money going to the JDRF and Caudwell Children's charities.

He said: “We raised a substantial amount in 2022, and it was just something I wanted to do again.

“My sister Blaire was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was seven or eight years old, and JDRF was a great help to her. She was rushed to the hospital and they were immediately there to help her figure out what to eat.

“Caudwell Children helps autistic children and my family has supported them for years. We have seen first-hand what a difference they can make.”

Tickets for Scotland's matches against hosts Switzerland and Hungary are being sold on resale sites for up to £12,000, but tournament organizers UEFA have warned fans could face charges refuse entry if they purchased them that way.

Steve Clarke's men are competing in a second successive Euros, having ended the country's long drought at major tournaments by qualifying for the 2020 edition.

However, Mitchell is sure he won't feel too disappointed when the whistle blows on June 14.

“Some of my friends who didn't get tickets think I'm crazy. But I just want to raise as much money as possible for charity,” he said.