Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News-2013-06-11

Papiss Cisse, a Muslim football player and striker for Newcastle United has objected on religious and ethical grounds to wear a shirt that carries the logo of the club’s new sponsor; a sky-high interest rates loan company Wonga.

The Senegal star informed the Magpies of his objections, on religious and ethical grounds, to advertising the pay-day loan company while playing for them.

In an exclusive report, The Daily Mirror said, “that star striker Papiss Cisse, a practicing Muslim, is against helping promote Wonga, who have attracted criticism for charging sky-high interest rates that allegedly target the poor.”

Criticism was raised last October when the Newcastle United signed a four-year £24 million sponsorship deal with Wonga, a short-term loan company.

But the deal has prompted calls for Muslim players in Newcastle not to wear shirts with the logo of the loans company, which charges 4.214% interest on its internet payday loans, as Islam prohibits paying, receiving and using of usuary.

Newcastle are yet to work out a compromise with Cisse though history points to a solution as they may follow the stance of former Tottenham and West Ham striker Freddie Kanoute.

The Malian refused to wear the logo of gambling website 888.com on his Seville shirt some years ago. Kanoute instead wore an unbranded top in Spain, although he agreed to wear the logo during training.

Eventually he agreed to wear the shirt in exchange for being excused from any of the promotional duties the sponsorship entailed.

Newcastle United has four practicing Muslim players; Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa