Papiss Cisse leaves training camp in sponsor row

Newcastle: Papiss Ciss has pulled out of Newcastle United’s pre-season training camp in Portugal following a row over wearing club sponsor Wonga’s logo.

The striker, who is a Muslim, is refusing to promote the money-lending company on religious grounds and has offered to wear an unbranded shirt or one bearing the name of a charity.

However, that has not gone down well with the club and, according to reports on the BBC, the discussions between his representatives and Newcastle have become “strained”, leading to questions about his future.

Cisse’s Newcastle team-mates Cheick Tiote and Moussa Sissoko are also Muslim, but have no issue with wearing the sponsor’s logo. Cisse will continue to train on his own.