Newcastle United are involved in talks with Papiss Demba Cisse over his objections to wearing a Wonga-branded club shirt.
The striker, a devout Muslim, is understood to have offered to instead wear a jersey emblazoned with a charity logo this coming season.
Islam forbids the lending of money for interest, and Cisse has raised concerns with the club’s hierarchy about United’s new sponsors, controversial payday lenders Wonga.
Cisse was involved in a meeting with club officials on his return to Tyneside on Friday, and has also undergone fitness tests over the weekend..
However, contrary to one report, the 28-year-old has not been told to train alone while the issue is resolved.
There is a precedent in football, with Frederic Kanoute having refused to wear a Sevilla shirt advertising a gambling company in 2006 on religious grounds.
Instead, the Muslim striker wore an unbranded jersey.