Newcastle United

[Bender]

The controversy surrounding Newcastle’s new shirt sponsor has taken a new twist with star striker Papiss Cisse set to refuse to wear the kit bearing Wonga.com.
The Senegalese striker is a practicing Muslim and has protested to club officials on religious and ethical grounds about the pay-day loan company's deal.
Under Sharia law, Muslims must not benefit from either lending money or receiving money from another person - meaning that interest is prohibited. Interest is not paid on Islamic bank accounts or added to mortgages.



CIsse's team-mates Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa, who are also practicing Muslims, may also refuse to wear the strip.
Newcastle are yet to work out a compromise with the player, report The Mirror, though history points to a solution as they may follow the stance of former Tottenham and West Ham striker Freddie Kanoute.

The Malian refused to wear the logo of gambling website 888.com on his Seville shirt some years ago. Kanoute instead wore an an unbranded top in Spain, although he agreed to wear the logo during training.

Eventually he agreed to wear the shirt in exchange for being excused from any of the promotional duties the sponsorship entailed.
Wonga, whose four-year deal takes over from Virgin Money at the start of next season, has already drawn fierce criticism from other quarters for the huge interest charged on 30-day loans.

Should a Newcastle fan accept a loan to buy a £50 club shirt, they would have to repay £71.92 after a month with a rate equivalent to 4,212 per cent per year.

Earlier this week Bolton reversed their decision to enter into a sponsorship deal with QuickQuid after an agreement was met with opposition from fans.
A statement on the club’s official website confirmed the agreement was no longer, with chairman Phil Gartside insisting: ‘We don’t want our commercial relationships to come between us and our community.’

link

[McDermotX]

Magnificent.

The Newcastle Utd circus continues. English football would be lost without them. Lost I tells ya !

[Bender]

Originally Posted by McDermotX

Magnificent.

The Newcastle Utd circus continues. English football would be lost without them. Lost I tells ya !

[Gingawaria]

Originally Posted by BBC Sport

Newcastle's Papiss Cisse plans club talks over new shirt sponsor

By Saj Chowdhury and Ben Smith

Papiss Cisse is set to discuss his concerns about wearing the Newcastle shirt sponsored by a loans firm when he returns from duty with Senegal.

It is understood the 28-year-old striker wants to remain at the club, but is worried his Muslim beliefs would be compromised if he were seen to promote the company.

Professional Footballers' Association deputy chief Bobby Barnes said it was a "difficult situation", but hoped that the club would respect Cisse's views and there would be a "compromise".

"We're all aware that clubs need to generate revenue and sometimes have to use a wide range of companies," Barnes told BBC Sport.

In October, high-interest payday lenders Wonga were announced as the company to take over from Virgin Money as Newcastle's new shirt sponsors from the 2013-14 season. It is thought the contract is worth around £8m a year to the club.

Barnes added: "However, if someone feels very, very strongly that it's not compatible with their beliefs, then some sort of solution should be found.

"He's been fantastic player at Newcastle and I'd like to think they would want to do as much they could do for him to continue scoring the goals without compromising his beliefs."

Cisse joined the Magpies in January 2012 and has scored 26 times for the Magpies in all competitions. He is currently on international duty with Senegal for their World Cup qualifiers and scored in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Angola. Senegal play Liberia on 16 June.

A similar conflict occurred at Spanish club Sevilla in 2007 when striker Frederic Kanoute, who like Cisse is a devout Muslim, covered the logo of a betting company on his shirt. Gambling is forbidden in Islam.

The Mali forward, who played for Tottenham, made a U-turn after the club told him that wearing the shirt would not imply that he was promoting gambling. Kanoute did not take part in any promotional activities involving the sponsor.

Just seems like a convenient way for him to force a move for me.

I could be over simplifying things but Virgin Money are a loan provider too yet he seemingly had no qualms wearing the shirt last season? An argument could be made that they do things other than loans whereas Wonga are solely a loan provider I suppose?

[Alex]

I get Cisse's problems with it. They are totally legit. But is there anything about him refusing to wear Virgin Money? They are essentially the same thing. Just one is a cunts company that preys on people's need for instant money.

[saj]

Originally Posted by Alex

I get Cisse's problems with it. They are totally legit. But is there anything about him refusing to wear Virgin Money? They are essentially the same thing. Just one is a cunts company that preys on people's need for instant money.

You are spot on. Seems a bit of an overreaction from Cisse. Will he refuse a portion of his salary too now that his salary is now being partly funded by Wonga? Of course he won't.

[baitman]

Originally Posted by saj

You are spot on. Seems a bit of an overreaction from Cisse. Will he refuse a portion of his salary too now that his salary is now being partly funded by Wonga? Of course he won't.

its probably easier to get a move away crying about not liking the shirt sponsors than biting another player

[Cormack74]

Originally Posted by Gingawaria

Just seems like a convenient way for him to force a move for me.

I could be over simplifying things but Virgin Money are a loan provider too yet he seemingly had no qualms wearing the shirt last season? An argument could be made that they do things other than loans whereas Wonga are solely a loan provider I suppose?

Originally Posted by Alex

I get Cisse's problems with it. They are totally legit. But is there anything about him refusing to wear Virgin Money? They are essentially the same thing. Just one is a cunts company that preys on people's need for instant money.

Not necessarily, Some banks offer specialist Islamic accounts. Virgin may be one of them (several main stream ones do) but I can't really be arsed to look TBH.

[Maxiedge]

[Fivex]

[Kenneth]

[Cormack74]

Took me a moment if I'm honest.

[kev776]

[Tee]

Just clicked.....

[Neil Young]

Originally Posted by Alex

I get Cisse's problems with it. They are totally legit. But is there anything about him refusing to wear Virgin Money? They are essentially the same thing. Just one is a cunts company that preys on people's need for instant money.

Originally Posted by saj

You are spot on. Seems a bit of an overreaction from Cisse. Will he refuse a portion of his salary too now that his salary is now being partly funded by Wonga? Of course he won't.

Yeah maybe but that's missing the point. The villain here is the Newcastle United board which has chosen to take millions from a loan shark.

And Virgin Money maybe ethically compromised but it's in a different league from Wonga with its typical interest rate of (according to their site) 4214%.

Borrow £100. A year later, owe over £4000.

It may be legal but they're still crooks.

[Norbs]

Originally Posted by Maxiedge

Sarah Millican will be creaming her knickers at that

[Assassin]

Originally Posted by Maxiedge

[Debsju]

I don't get it

[Debsju]

Lol just got it

[Buzzo]

Originally Posted by Neil Young

Yeah maybe but that's missing the point. The villain here is the Newcastle United board which has chosen to take millions from a loan shark.

And Virgin Money maybe ethically compromised but it's in a different league from Wonga with its typical interest rate of (according to their site) 4214%.

Borrow £100. A year later, owe over £4000.

It may be legal but they're still crooks.

Its refreshing to hear of a footballer making any sort of stance to be honest, particularly one that affects the man on the street. Companies like Wonga are fucking leeches. Blatantly preying on the vulnerable its a disgrace. There needs to be strong legislation around companies like Wonga, and the ethics under which they operate.

Well done Pappis Cisse.

[RichC]

It depends on whether it's him making an honest stance on his beliefs or using this as an opportunity to force a move away from the club.

I'm such a cynic when it comes to footballers and their reasons for doing things these days £££££££££

[Buzzo]

Yeah, that is true. The precedent with Freddie Kanoute is interesting though.

Somewhat ironically my local team Hearts are also sponsered by Wonga. 25 million in debt, entire squad up for sale as they need to raise 500k to see them through to the new season...

Seems they aren't keen on a 500k payday loan

[RichC]

at 4000% or whatever it is per year you'd be best off giving them a swerve anyway!!

FWIW these pay day loan companies are disgraceful businesses praying on the vulnerable and desperate charging at the old school loan shark rates

[Fredo]

Originally Posted by Maxiedge

[BobTheCharmer]

Its taken me nigh on a day to get that joke. I kept coming back and seeing laughter and felt left out somewhat, now I see it.

[kev776]

Originally Posted by BobTheCharmer

Its taken me nigh on a day to get that joke. I kept coming back and seeing laughter and felt left out somewhat, now I see it.

Nice one Bob, at least you stuck at it.

[Bender]

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, 26, has taken legal advice and will speak to the club over their kit deal with loans company Wonga, which conflicts with his religious beliefs.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

[Rowan]

Strong rumour going around that they are going to appoint Joe Kinnear as DoF

[Shaggy]

Sounds like more than a rumour. Telegraph's North East man

Luke Edwards ‏@LukeEdwardsTele
Joe Kinnear heading back to #nufc as Director of Football. I'm actually speechless. Able to type. Just can't speak.

[Bender]

Originally Posted by Rowan

Strong rumour going around that they are going to appoint Joe Kinnear as DoF

[ChesterDave]

Originally Posted by Bender

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, 26, has taken legal advice and will speak to the club over their kit deal with loans company Wonga, which conflicts with his religious beliefs.
Full story: Mail on Sunday

He'll get the move he has reportedly wanted for almost 2 years then

[Shaggy]

Joe Kinnear set to make shock return to Newcastle United as director of football in management shake-up

Newcastle United are set to appoint Joe Kinnear as a director of football in a startling shake up of the club’s management structure after last season’s brush with relegation.

By Luke Edwards

4:19PM BST 16 Jun 2013

Kinnear spent just over six months as Newcastle’s manager between September 2008 and April 2009, a volatile period in the middle of a campaign that ended with Newcastle suffering the humiliation of relegation to the Championship.

In that short period, Kinnear earned plenty of eye-catching headlines with his press conferences while putting out a series of fires in the dressing room for owner Mike Ashley caused by Kevin Keegan’s resignation.

It was memorable stint from one of football’s most colourful characters, but few fans remember it fondly and he won just five of his 26 games in charge.

However, Newcastle were not in the relegation zone when he left the club because of heart trouble and both Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias have remained close to him. Both were adamant the team would not have gone down if he had remained as manager.

Having already suffered a heart attack while manager of Wimbledon, Kinnear – whose appointment has now bewildered fans for a second time – will come back to the North-East without the pressure of front line management.

The idea has almost certainly to have come from Ashley, who still maintains Kinnear is the best manager he has worked with during his six years in charge of the club.

Ashley was far from impressed with the way the team performed last season – they finished fifth from bottom just 12 months after finishing fifth from top – and while he resisted the temptation to make manager Alan Pardew pay for it with his job, he has wanted to change the way the club is run.

Kinnear, who has been out of work since he quit as Newcastle’s manager, will take overall responsibility for the Academy and much of the football administration work currently done by Llambias.

He is also expected to work closely with manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr to help shape the first team squad, despite his apparent lack of involvement in the game over the last four years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-shake-up.html

[Rowan]

Was with a load of mates in a beer garden when the news started leaking through. Absolutely hilarious. Everyone was going totally postal

[peekay]

Originally Posted by Rowan

Strong rumour going around that they are going to appoint Joe Kinnear as DoF

Maybe this is Ashley's insurance policy if Pardew continues his poor run.

What a let down for Newcastle fans. At the beginning of the summer they were hoping for Rafa and his team. From that to Joe Kinnear

[Shaggy]

Pete Graves ‏@PeteGravesSky
Spoke to Joe Kinnear. 3 year contract at #nufc as director of football. Overseeing playing style and transfers.

[Gibbo]

Got to piss Pardrew off that.

[RichC]

WTF!!! Kinnear!!!

Surely this has to be an extremely late April fools

[peekay]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Pete Graves ‏@PeteGravesSky
Spoke to Joe Kinnear. 3 year contract at #nufc as director of football. Overseeing playing style and transfers.

[Rowan]

Nope. Definitely done now.

[peekay]

Shaggy..I think your "literary and movie making talents" are wasted being a liverpool fan..You should start following Geordie football..The amount of material available to you there is immense..