Newcastle avoid sponsor row as Muslim Magpies agree to wear new Wonga shirts

Newcastle's Muslim stars have defused a potential row over the club's new Wonga.com branded kit, by sporting the tops in the first training session.

Striker Papiss Cisse, who wasn't at training, has refused to wear the shirt on religious grounds and the club feared that others would follow suit.

But yesterday some of the Magpies' other practising Muslims, including Hatem Ben Arfa, Moussa Sissoko and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, were pictured wearing training shirts with the Wonga logo.

Newcastle announced a £24million, four-year deal with lender Wonga last year. Under Sharia law, Muslims must not benefit from lending money.