There have been reports that Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has received racist abuse from the Newcastle – English Defense League on Facebook.
Papiss Cisse – receives racial abuse
Papiss Cisse is a Muslim and all the news this week has been about the failure of the player, Newcastle United and Wonga to reach some agreement, after Cisse has refused to wear the Wonga logo because of his religious beliefs.
We thought a solution may have been that Cisse would wear a plain Newcastle shirt, but it seems Wonga has an agreement with Newcastle, according to the local Newcastle press, that all players must wear the Wonga insignia.
The news being reported is that the EDL (English Defense League) members have been sending the player some abuse on Facebook, and the Northumbria police are launching an investigation.
Chief Superintendent Dianne Winship had this to say:
“We have been made aware of abusive comments made on Facebook.” “Northumbria Police take all reports of abuse very seriously and inquiries are being conducted.”
Ged Grebby, Chief Executive, Show Racism the Red Card said
“This shows what some people who associate themselves with the EDL really think. As an organisation the EDL claim to be against fundamentalists.”
“In reality, it is all too common to see racist behaviors online from people who identify themselves as EDL supporters and at their demonstrations, directed at Muslims and Islam as a whole.”
“The dispute between Cisse and NUFC has nothing to do with fundamentalism. It is about an individual’s right to their beliefs. Yet the members of this Facebook group think that warrants racist abuse.”
“We would encourage everyone to look behind the EDL’s rhetoric. It is good news that Northumbria Police are trying to identify the perpetrators of this abuse.”
Racial abuse is never good, and we hope this situation can be quickly contained, and Cisse has every legal right to refuse to wear the Wonga insignia for religious reasons, whether people agree with that or not.
The expressions of hate never did anyone any good, so again we hope this thing can be nipped in the bud.
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63 comments so far
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Comment #1This was coming and some on this blog are fuelling this………some comments have been right out of line.
kevymartins
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Comment #2English can be right b@stards sometimes, go watch your fcuking cricket.
magicbus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Comment #3Gather the edl up and drop em in the north sea
scout
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Comment #4Id refuse to wear it on moral grounds
How can a firm charge this much apr legally???
Spoof
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Comment #5This is becoming way too political, Ed why have you fuelled this, surely you should be trying to stop this and not adding fuel to the fire, there are too many people who do not realise how inflammatory their comments can be too others.
Its a football forum, it should be kept to football and not politics or religion, there are other outlets where those subjects can be discussed, so lets leave those discussions there and lets not bring them here.
kevymartins
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:14 PM
Comment #6Cisse is a fcuking living legend, You would never in 100 years see any English cnut give more than half there wages to their home town week after week saving lives.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Comment #7I think if Cisse is angling for a move he has been poorly advised or he needs to make a statement that it is not a religious issue but an ethical one on the grounds that wonga preys on the vunerable where as alcohol companies prey on the likes of me.The EDL aren’t really qualified to make statements as a large percentage of their membership are illiterate.
Markaccus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:16 PM
Comment #8Kevy
I think cisse is a great player too. On his day.
I also like cricket as i have a very open mind when it comes to sport (except for golf)
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:17 PM
Comment #9JFA -but it can be a religious issue…..there can be no argument in that
scout
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:18 PM
Comment #10Very bad homework by the club in my opinion, surely it should have been suggested that muslim players might have an issue with the whole saga. Special dispensation could be granted I’m guessing wonga are worried others will follow suit.
Mister Tuff
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:19 PM
Comment #11The club deserve no credit for all this mess. They should of had this sorted out behind closed doors weeks ago.
I posted months ago that there would be more trouble involving Wonga. Truly amateurish -another PR own goal.
Offkey -I understand the Crusades but do not get the relevance in respect of the Cisse discussion.
thepict
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:19 PM
Comment #12A friend of mine went to the anti EDL rally in the town the other month, one of the EDL brain boxes was giving a speech and said they teach their kids to read the kerang . Just shows the mentality of the douche bags.. Definitely trew the wrong thing away when they were born.
Markaccus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Comment #13Scout
Agree. Both the club and wonga have dropped a b0ll0ck on this. One or both of them should have checked.
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Comment #14tuff – just an analogy thats all, well thats what I saw it as
OhSholaAmeobi
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:21 PM
Comment #15It’s not on this like, can’t go around slaughtering and being racist to our own players. Besides there has yet to be a single word spoken from the club or Cisse himself about the matter – it first appeared in the Mirror or the Mail or something – renowned for printing crap.
If I remember rightly the papers tried to bring up a similar issue with the virgin money thing saying that the like of Ba, Cisse, Cabaye and Ben Arfa wouldn’t wear it – which had no substance to it whatsoever.
Even if there actually is an issue from Cisse with wearing Wonga i’d imagine he’d come to a compromise with the club and the sponsor and it would be kept behind closed doors.
Markaccus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:23 PM
Comment #16Thepict
Hahaha at kerang
“And lo, mohamed went to see Metallica. And he did proclaim that James ul hetfield al mosher totally rocked the venue” \m/ (-_-) \m/
potski
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Comment #17Tads
I think JackButler is probably right. There have been stories circulating about the issue since the Wonga deal was signed, Ed reported on it last October:
http://www.nufcblog.com/2012/10/12/is-wonga-deal-really-a-problem-for-newcastles-muslim-players/
But since none of the parties involved have ever publicly commented about it, the prevailing view on this blog seems to have been that this was a made-up story, until Cisse didn’t get on the plane this week.
What’s interesting is the quote from a Muslim leader, which probably explains the difference in views amongst the Muslim players:
“We have the rulings of the religious law and we have the individual’s choice and decision on how they want to follow or not follow that rule.”
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Comment #18Offkey,
I understand that but if he’s to come out of this with any credibility he needs to say it is a moral issue rather than religious as he’s already worn a virgin shirt and according to one poster an alcholic beverage company with Freilberg.
Kevymartins.
I’ve always thought you a tw@t and now I know it.
Spoof
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:25 PM
Comment #19Tuff
the reference to the crusades was too show that you can’t tar all with the same brush, people of the same religion or belief can still have different views on what there beliefs are, meaning that just because Sissoko, Ben Arfa and Tiote are ok with Wonga doesn’t mean that Cisse having a different view is either right or wrong.
Tommyy
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:26 PM
Comment #20Kevy – You need to be careful what you say before you quickly cross the line of stereotyping and generalising toward the English.
Markaccus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:26 PM
Comment #21Potski
I was saying earlier that some muslims are more strict than others, just like any religion. Trouble is many westerners assume they are all fanatical nut jobs with exploding back packs.
kevymartins
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:27 PM
Comment #22@JFA Go send cisse racial abuse since he is a Muslim fcuking disgrace man.
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:27 PM
Comment #23ahh golf a true gentleman’s game
no cheating,
no slagging off of an opponent,
yes a true gents game
scout
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Comment #24Didn’t realise cisse sent so much money back to where he’s from must be very satisfying knowing you’ve helped so many people out. If only he would come out and explain it would make things more understandable
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Comment #25JFA – There seems to be a lack of understanding here, some feel there religion requires them to wear headscarfs some not. Some feel they have to cover whole face some just the hair. Who are you or I to say that is not a religious belief, or one of these is right and the other is wrong……
kevymartins
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Comment #26@Tommy Im just saying I bet he wouldn’t have got this crap if he was still in Germany and it would have been resolved quickly.
Sazzer
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Comment #27My guess is that Cisse needs more time to recover from the injury he got against Liberia and the press is all wrong on this.
Markaccus
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Comment #28Spoof
Yep, it is just like the difference between a baptist and a methodist. Different interpretations of the same rules. Its bonkers really 😀
Jamiemac
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Comment #29@GFN_France: Jean Michel Aulas has confirmed our reports that Lyon are talking to Newcastle and Aston Villa for Bafetimbi Gomis. #OL #AVFC #NUFC
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Comment #30Tommy – I took it as a type of satire (if thats the correct word) I may be wrong
DevonToon
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Comment #31So… How do we plan to watch the toon now the Premier League has obtaind High Court orders to block FirstRow Sports from streaming live matches?
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Comment #32and i can’t wear a crucifix for work as it upsets people
jeeze and i am a vicars deputy
OhSholaAmeobi
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Comment #33It is currently ramadan. Maybe he’s not going to play in any friendlies and train separately till then?
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Comment #34I wonder how many muslims will be inclined to sign for us now
Jammy-D
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Comment #35wtf did cricket have to do with it ?? and why all the racially charged statements…
Used to love reading this blog and following peoples statements and opinions….. recently though Im quite sick of the abuse, hate and borderline racism towards posters.
Get back to the banter, well argued statements and interesting (sometimes wrong) snippets of information on transfers
Offkey
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Comment #36Devontoon – there will always be a site – the pirate bay is still up and running you know through proxies etc.
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Comment #37devon you could move to where the injunction is void or travel and pay to watch
im sure there will be ways
stan anderson
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Comment #38With regards to having class players,we may have some good players,but they are,nt the top players i long for to compete with the best in the world,Messi ,Ronaldo,Van Persie,most of the Spain national team,ETC.ETC.We dont have the coaches or manager to get the best out of what we have got,they would ruin the best if we had them in TOON.
viv
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Comment #39Did the EDL, ask Cisse, to wear a Wonga shirt?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 18, 2013 at 5:34 PM
Comment #40Kevy
You do know that by defending Cisse against racial abuse you yourself have generalised and prejudged an entire nation of people? Do you see the irony in that?
On topic, racial abuse has absolutely no place in society. I do think Cisse is using this as an excuse to wrangle a move, if indeed he has an issue with Wonga, but in no sense is racial abuse or sectarian abuse a justified response.