The Shaolin Temple in Henan province, which is renowned for its unique practice of kungfu, has refuted a claim that it was offering training in "kungfu soccer".

"Kungfu soccer"[File photo]

The temple said in a statement on its official website that no warrior monks have been sent out to coach students in soccer schools that had claimed they had hired kungfu masters from Shaolin.

The temple also said it never authorized training centers that claimed to offer courses in Shaolin martial arts.

The monastery said its reputation has long suffered from illegal acts of deception committed under the name of Shaolin.