»Blair kicks Berlusconi's knee, damages cartilage - hospital«

Tony Blair left his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi hobbling after a "friendly" football game, it has been reported.

The pair played a five-a-side game at the Italian's Sardinian home during Mr Blair's visit earlier this month.

Having taken an accidental knock to the knee, Mr Berlusconi was left with a noticeable limp, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica said.

The Italian leader saw a specialist as the pain worsened, it was reported.

Touching his leg, the centre right politician supposedly joked: " You know, the left is always giving me problems ."

Mr Blair apparently ran into Mr Berlusconi during what was described by La Repubblica as a ginochiata, or "knee thrust", leaving his counterpart with a damaged cartilage.