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Newcastle players WILL wear club shirts after Wonga row

Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse considered their position following the news that the money-lending company would become club's main sponsor

Martin Hardy
Friday 28 June 2013 18:27 BST
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Newcastle's away kit, with its controversial sponsor, appears to be of slick design
Newcastle's away kit, with its controversial sponsor, appears to be of slick design (Newcastle)

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The Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote WILL wear the club shirt with Wonga on the front for the new season.

Tiote and team-mate Papiss Cisse had been seen as the two players who would adhere to Sharia Law and refuse to wear the payday lenders' logo.

Wonga signed a four-year £24 million deal to replace Virgin Money as Newcastle's main sponsors last year but it will not come into effect until the forthcoming season.

The move led to the club's Muslim players potentially breaking Sharia Law. Under Sharia Law, a Muslim is not allowed to benefit from lending money or receiving money from someone and the Muslim Council of Britain advised the players to consider their position.

Cisse has since informed club officials that he is unhappy about the prospect of having to wear shirts and training gear with the Wonga logos on it.

Newcastle remain hopeful that the Senegal striker can be persuaded to change his stance but as things stand, no resolution has been found to the forthcoming problem.

Tiote however, has already revealed he will not have a problem in wearing the new shirt next season.

Newcastle's players will return for pre-season training next week. Those who have been involved in international competition during the summer will be allowed extra leave, however it is thought Tiote may be back as early as July 6, where he will wear Wonga branded training wear for the first time.

Cisse, who, as the Independent revealed, wants an improved contract at St James' Park, is not expected to return to training until after Tiote and the majority of the club's first team squad. Newcastle will address the problem when he returns.

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