A school in Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, Kerala, has landed in trouble after its football team members wore jerseys with Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara’s, image imprinted on them.

The incident happened on Thursday at a sports meet held in Christ College in the same district. The football team in question is from HDP Samajam Higher Secondary School in Edathirinji.

After the students were found taking part in the sports events clad in the jersey – black and yellow with a small image of Che Guevara painted in red - political parties soon raised alarm. Congress and the BJP alleged that the school was using the children as political tools.

“Some passersby noticed this (the jersey) and brought it to our notice. We immediately went to the school and objected to it,” Congress’ Padiyur Mandalam Committee President KR Prabhakaran told The News Minute.

He also claimed that the organisers were allowed to continue with the event after the team members were asked to change into another jersey.

Prabhakaran said that the committee filed a complaint with the District Educational Officer and the Additional Educational Officer on Friday.

The BJP Panchayat Committee also took offence and carried out a protest march to the school.

“The Che image on jerseys was an instance of politicizing the school sports arena,” BJP Mandalam Secretary Binoy Kolanthra reportedly said.

Manorama news reports that the school management feigned ignorance of the incident and maintained that the management has no involvement whatsoever in it.

School manager Bharathan Kandekkatt has said that an explanation will be sought from the principal, head teacher and the sports teacher in this regard.