British Soccer Players Are Told New Team Shirts Violate Sharia Law

In Britain earlier this week, Newcastle's soccer team, the Magpies, signed a lucrative deal with Wonga.com, a short-term loan company that operates online, under which Wonga becomes the team's shirt sponsor beginning in the 2013-14 season. (Goal.com). Now, according to Goal.com, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, assistant general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, has told Muslim players that they will violate Sharia law if they wear the shirts. Under Islamic law, Muslims are not allowed to benefit from the lending of money. Wonga charges over 4000% interest on its loans.  Four players on the current Newcastle squad are practicing Muslims.