It is really possible to keep people's political perceptions out of sport? Well, judging by the recent goings on in California the answer would be no.

It all began when some teams turned up at the tournament and decided to give their clubs names like 'Soldiers of Allah' and 'Mujahideen'. It seemed to upset the locals leading to Jewish representatives organising a small demonstration outside the playing area.

Even local Muslim community leaders asked the teams to think again.

The row became so heated that one member of a team called Intifada said a few of his friends quit because their parents feared for their safety.

Nevertheless, Intifada escaped a ban.

Organisers said none of the names was meant to offend and players refused to change Intifada and some others. "We're just playing football," said Sabih Khan, 18, one of the tournament organisers. "It's just sport. There's no politics involved."

About 120 mostly Muslim men in their teens and early 20s played under clear skies at a park in Irvine as friends and family cheered from the sidelines.

Five protesters waved placards at the park entrance, away from the football field.

Their signs said: "Murder is not a game," and

When these guys throw the bomb, they really throw a bomb."

"To me, these names glorify terrorism," said Barry Spatz, a Jewish psychologist from Laguna Niguel. He carried a sign showing pictures of victims killed by suicide bombers in Israel.

"If Muslim youth want to get together and do something positive, that's fine. But this is an insult to me."

Intifada simply means means "uprising" in Arabic. And no mention was made of those killed by the Israeli army.

The protests had little effect on the competition. Fourteen squads battled for a first place trophy during the one-day tournament.

Rather than threatening, some of the team names - including Fantizzle Fizzle - were just silly.

The team name Muslim Rangers was replaced on a tournament list with Irvine Alumni.

Warming up for his first game, Oomar Patel, 23, dismissed the controversy.

"To each his own," said Patel, a police officer in Garden Grove.

"I'm just here to play football and have some fun."