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Newcastle United has cancelled in excess of 100 season tickets and expressed regret to followers for an “unfortunate mistake” following passes sold to travel companies a decade ago were “only discovered lately”

Newcastle United implemented measures following a detailed review into the improper re-selling of tickets for games at the stadium.

The news emerges in the wake of a school nearly 200 miles away managing to purchase tickets for the highly sought-after UCL home game against Barcelona this week.

Officials explained that when the takeover group assumed control four years ago, they terminated agreements with third parties that allowed them to sell tickets.

This involved the deal set up a decade ago with a limited number of tour organisers “for the benefit of school groups” - however the club did not realise they were continuing to trade tickets because there was no active contract with the organisers.

“During a period when we are doing our utmost to protect authorised access for Newcastle United fans, we want to be clear and say sorry for this error,” officials said.

Forty-five tickets for the fixture were acquired by the Dundee-based school in the same month that a huge number of fans had been in an digital line for the leftover seats for the highly anticipated fixture.

A representative for the school said they acquired them with honest intentions, after being “contacted” by a seller, but the tickets were subsequently revoked by the club.

Newcastle have now revoked a combined of 103 memberships in the past week for violating policies.

Newcastle United says the latest situation is separate from fans re-selling their tickets for St James' in “this instance”.

Third-party agents bought the season tickets in the 2015/16 campaign.

The club stressed that the continued use and illegal distribution of season tickets at a “inflated cost” was not discovered because there was “no official agreement in place for the tour groups”.

“Once notified of this issue, the club took swift measures,” a statement read.

“The club have not received any funds beyond the face value of these season tickets and have without delay made available the seats for sale to supporters who have registered for the random draw for upcoming fixtures.”

Supporters representatives recently “welcomed” the club “implementing clear measures to prevent and sanction those who may be profiteering from the fanbase”.

“In addition to the rise in entry fees, as per our yearly study, one of the biggest worries for supporters is reduced ticket availability as a result of, not only popularity, but the trading of tickets through unauthorised platforms or further unauthorised means,” it noted previously.