Papiss Cisse pulls out of Newcastle tour over Wonga row

PAPISS CISSE’S Newcastle future is in doubt after he pulled out of the club’s pre-season tour to Portugal.

The Senegal star has been locked in a dispute over Toon’s new shirt sponsor Wonga.

Cisse, 28, is reluctant to wear the payday loan company’s logo due to his Islamic beliefs, which forbid the lending of money for interest.

He has offered to wear either an unbranded shirt or one featuring a charity logo instead.

But his representatives have been in talks with Newcastle this week over whether Cisse may still be forced to wear the Wonga brand in training and matches.

The PFA have also got involved and with discussions still unresolved, the striker opted to stay at home while the rest of the squad jetted off to Braga today.

Toon play Rio Ave on Saturday and Pacos de Ferreira next Tuesday.

Boss Alan Pardew had expected Cisse to be on the plane when he spoke following his side’s 4-2 pre-season win at Motherwell on Tuesday.

The former Freiburg star also missed the Fir Park clash having been given extra time off following his international commitments this summer.