Newcastle set for Cisse talks over sponsor issue

English Premier League club Newcastle United will hold talks with Papiss Cisse after the striker insisted he would not wear the team’s shirt carrying the branding of money lender Wonga, according to the Shields Gazette newspaper.

Cisse, who is out of the UK during the close season, has cited his religious beliefs for his opposition to carrying the sponsor.

Under Sharia law, Muslims must not benefit from either lending money or receiving money, meaning that interest is prohibited.

The Daily Mail newspaper had earlier reported that Newcastle may sell Cisse to avoid devaluing the new deal with Wonga, a short-term lender that applies high interest rates.

The latest reports have said Newcastle will try to resolve the issue with Cisse when he returns to England.

Reports have claimed that Newcastle has no plans to follow Bolton Wanderers, from the second tier English Championship, which last week cancelled a shirt sponsorship deal with another short-term lender, QuickQuid, following a backlash from fans.