Foot fault! Broke Becker forced to sell off his socks

BANKRUPT Boris Becker has agreed to auction his tennis memorabilia, from trophies and racquets … to used socks and sweat bands.

The former Wimbledon champion yesterday abandoned attempts to prevent the fire sale of his personal effects, in a major boost to his creditors.

Becker, 51, also dropped his claim that he had diplomatic immunity as an attache of the Central African Republic and so could not be prosecuted. It means the star – who is simultaneously facing divorce proceedings – could now be subject to a ‘public examination’ of his finances and questioned under oath by lawyers.

Yesterday at a specialist insolvency court in London Judge Daniel Schaffer was told Becker had ‘stopped co-operating’ with the trustees in his bankruptcy, whose role is to ensure that creditors are paid. Tony Beswetherick, for the trustees, revealed Becker has dropped his claim to have been appointed the Central African Republic’s sport and culture attache to the EU.

The African state’s foreign minister had denied that Becker held any such role. Mr Beswetherick said: ‘He [Becker] has confirmed that he has no entitlement to diplomatic immunity.’

The lawyer also said Becker does not now oppose the selling of his sporting mementoes and trophies.

They were first offered for sale last year and could have raised £200,000. But Becker succeeded in getting that sale halted, saying it stripped him of his ‘personal dignity’.

Judge Schaffer yesterday extended the bankruptcy indefinitely and warned that Becker’s finances could be scrutinised if he fails to co-operate with the trustees.