Former India football captain I.M.Vijayan attracts KFA's ire for playing in unauthorised tourney

Former India football captain I.M. Vijayan could invite suspension from the Kerala Football Association (KFA) for playing in a tournament the state football body considers as ‘unauthorised’.

The 43-year-old former fleet-footed striker, who has played with pride for some of the country’s top clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, JCT, Kerala Police and FC Cochin, apparently turned out for the ‘Kerala Sevens’ team in an exhibition match at Perumbavur recently on the opening day of the Sevens Premier League.

It may be mentioned here that the Perumbavur tournament is being conducted under the banner of the Kerala Sevens Football Association, which organized many such tournaments every year. In fact, the dates of the Perumbavur tournament clashed with the Santosh Trophy’s Kochi leg.

It is learnt that KFA is seething over the fact that Vijayan went on to play in an unauthorized tournament despite being a KFA-registered player. The state body is likely to send a notice to Vijayan and if at all a suspension is handed out, it will be for a period of six months.