EPL Newcastle striker Papiss Cissé "has reached a truce" in his dispute over Newcastle's shirt sponsorship deal with money lender Wonga and "will start training with his team-mates on Friday," according to John Percy of the London TELEGRAPH. Cissé's feud with Newcastle "appears to be over after extensive talks" with the PFA "ended in a resolution." Cissé, a Muslim, "has objected to the club's sponsorship deal with Wonga." The PFA, Muslim clerics and Cissé's agent "have all been involved in the negotiations" (TELEGRAPH, 7/25). In London, Louise Taylor reported Cissé "became increasingly aware" that neither Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley nor Wonga "were prepared to countenance him wearing either charity or non-branded kit." His case "appeared undermined earlier this week when photographs of him in a Tyneside casino, apparently gambling, were published." Meanwhile, he was reminded that "although the giving or receiving of interest is prohibited under sharia law, he was happy to wear the logo of Newcastle's previous sponsors, Virgin Money, last season." Also, the "breaking of a contract is frowned upon in Islam," and Newcastle has "made it clear Cissé has been very well looked after at St James' Park, with the club even building a special prayer room at their training ground for the squad's Muslim contingent" (GUARDIAN, 7/25).
