QUIRKY WORLD ... Lionel Messi puts his foot in it with charity donation

EGYPT: World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi found himself the unlikely figure of controversy in Egypt after a local politician and a soccer official reacted angrily when he donated a pair of his boots to raise money for charity.

MBC Masr channel broadcast an interview last Saturday with Barcelona’s Messi on the television programme Yes I am Famous, but the announcement that the Argentina forward would auction his boots for charity provoked an unexpected response.

Member of parliament and television presenter Said Hasasin, appearing on his own talk show, took off his shoes and said he would donate them to the poor of Argentina.