A Charitable gesture by Argentine football star Lionel Messi has provoked outrage in Egypt ,Where a law maker and foot ball official took umbrage at the donation of his sneakers as charity to the Egyptian public, AFP reports
Messi in an interview with the private satellite channel MBC Misr, had donated his shoes to the channel to auction them off for charity.
"Messi I really thank you " said the interviewer as she sat across from the Barcelona player, dangling his shoes , in the segment aired on Saturday.
While no one would consider being hit with a shoe or being labeled a shoe a compliment, it is especially insulting in middle east cultures.
Messi donating his considered insulting to Egyptian member of parliament Saaid Hassaein , who attacked Messi on his television show.
"This is my shoe," he said holding up a beaten loafer," I donate it to Argentina, This is an insult to the Egyptian people," he elaborated thumping his fist on his desk.
Egyptian football federation spokesman Azmi Mogahed phoned in to the show to express his outrage.
"It is an insult even to our religion" Mogahed said. The still angry Hassaein interrupted "His religion is Jewish! ". Mogahed agreed "I know he's Jewish, he donates to Israel and visited the wailing wall and whatever..... We don't need his shoes and Egypt's poor don't need help from someone with Jewish or Zionist citizenship".
"People in Argentina sleep in parks!" Hassaein added.
Messi was born into a catholic family, and has made the sign of the cross after scoring goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment