Devoted Muslim Papiss Cissé shirt row intensifies; ...refuses to wear Newcastle's Wonga-branded shirt

Papiss Cisse has pulled out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour to Portugal as the row over his refusal to wear the new sponsors’ logo intensifies.

As a Muslim, Cisse does not want to wear a shirt that promotes a money-lending company but he offered to wear an unbranded shirt or one bearing a charity logo instead.

His refusal to wear the Wonga-branded training kit has resulted in the striker training on his own following his return from the summer break as a solution is sought.

He had been expected to join the rest of the Newcastle squad in Portugal for a pre-season training camp, which includes games against Rio Ave and Pacos Ferrerira, but he has remained in Newcastle.

While he will continue to train on his own, his absence from the training camp is almost certain to increase speculation about his future at St James’s Park.

In October the club signed a deal with pay-day lender Wonga to replace Virgin Money as Newcastle’s shirt sponsors from the 2013-14 season, an announcement which did not sit well with Cisse.

However, Cisse’s Newcastle team-mates Cheick Tiote and Moussa Sissoko, who are also Muslim, have told the club that they are prepared to wear the sponsor’s logo.