Teenager Nick Killen has been denied his sporting dream because of political red tape.

The 18-year-old, who had to have both eyes removed due to a rare form of cancer, had overcome all the odds to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Athens.

Nick, of Shipley, had been set to make sporting history by taking part in the first blind football tournament at the Paralympics.

But football chiefs in Scotland and Wales stepped in to stop Nick and his teammates in the British team from taking part.

Nick said: "I'm disappointed and frustrated that we're not there. It's a real shame that after we qualified to take part we're not allowed to."

But the brave sportsman has vowed to bounce back and achieve a rare sporting feat in four years' time.

He wants to qualify for the next Paralympics in Beijing in both judo and football. First the football team will have to find a way of cutting through the red tape that stopped the British team - who qualified by finishing second in the 2003 European Championships - from travelling to Athens

Blind football has been played at national level in England since 1995, but struggled for funds until it was rescued by the English Football Association in 2000.

Nick was first called up by the national team in 2003, and travelled to a tournament in Argentina in April this year.

But to compete under the name of Great Britain in Athens the England team needed permission from the game's governing bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Football Association gave the go-ahead, but both Scotland and Wales refused.

FA of Wales secretary General David Collins said: "The four British football associations have always taken the stance that with regard to the Olympic football event we couldn't be part of it because the nations maintain their individuality.

"It's true of the Olympics and it's true of any side that purports to represent Great Britain as footballers."

Team coach Tony Larkin said: "It was a bitter blow, because we're ranked second in Europe and I'm sure we would have done well."

The news left Nick doubly disappointed, as he had been close to winning selection in the judo team.

But he said: "In four years, with the right training, I'll definitely be aiming to play football in the Paralympics.

And I don't see why I can't make the judo team as well. It depends on when the events are scheduled - if judo is on before football, I could do both."

Sports-mad Nick is currently studying at a national college for the blind in Worcester, and plays cricket for the school.

He also plays goal ball - a three-a-side indoor sport for the visually-impaired - and takes part in rifle shooting.

In 2002 the T&A arranged for Nick to meet his heroes at Liverpool Football Club.