Newcastle United player Papisse Cisse fined £5,000 for refusing to don Wonga sponsored shirt
A Newcastle United player who refused to wear his club shirt, because it displayed the logo of payday loan firm Wonga, has been hit by a £5000 fine by the club for his action.
Papisse Cisse took his expensive stand on account of his Muslim beliefs, which under the strictest interpretation of Sharia law (a stringent Islamic legal system, prevents adherents from benefitting from interest on loaned money.
This isn’t normally a problem for the Senegalese player, who pockets an eye watering £40k a week - and nor is it an issue for other Muslim players in the squad, but Cisse has chosen to make a stand on the issue.
That stance could cost the player his job however with speculation mounting that Cisse may be forced out of the club as early as Friday – leaving his healthy pay packet behind him.
Wonga replaced Virgin Money as Newcastle United sponsors last year, stoking anger amongst fans at annual interest of as much as 5,853 per cent on short term loans.