Zee Churchill denies joining IPFA

Goa's leading football team Zee Churchill Football Club clarified in Bombay on Tuesday that it has not joined the newly-formed Indian Premier Football Association along with eight other top teams in the country.

Zee spokesman Satish Menon, in a statement, said: "We are pained to read media reports of a possible breakaway within the national football fraternity and the leading clubs. Zee is committed to the game and is keen on reaching it to millions of viewers.

"It is time to sit and resolve issues rather than consider a parallel body and hence we would like to say that football lovers should learn from the example of factionalism in cricket and work together to make this popular sport a winner," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Zee Churchill club's patron and Former Goa Chief Minister Churchill Alemao confirmed over telephone from Goa that his team has not joined the IPFA.

"We respect the game of football and I want to see India playing the World Cup and not break the parent body," he said.

The other eight teams who are reported to have joined the IPFA are United Mohun Bagan, United East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Manaksia Tollygunge Agragami (all from Bengal), Mahindra United from Bombay, F C Kochin from Kerala, JCT, Paghwara, and Salgaocar Sports Club from Goa.