Newcastle United’s Cisse uses blood ritual to end goal drought

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse took part in a voodoo-style ritual to end a goal drought, fearing he had been cursed by a rival player. Cisse became worried when his run of sensational goals after joining Newcastle United came to a sudden end.

The Senegal star, convinced he’d been cursed, then begged teammate Cheick Tiote – famous for his superstitious beliefs – to help break the spell.

And after the ceremony, said to have even involved bloodletting, the 30-year-old striker resumed normal duties in front of goal.

    A Newcastle insider said: “It’s one of those things you really couldn’t believe at first.

    “Papiss is very superstitious and became convinced he’d been cursed to stop scoring.”

    The insider added: “Cheick is Papiss’s good friend so he agreed to it, even though it apparently involved bloodletting and various bits of hocus pocus.”

Agent Madou Diene said of his £45,000-a-week striker’s return to form: “Maybe it’s psychological.” But he added: “If Cheick would have done that, he would have done it for himself to score goals also.”

It was reported in 2011 that Tiote – then linked with a sensational £25 million transfer to Chelsea – had seen a witch doctor in a bid to regain full fitness after a series of niggling injuries.

He flew with Newcastle United owner Mike ­Ashley’s blessing back to Yamoussoukro, capital of the Ivory Coast, for the traditional treatment.

The rival player said to have put the curse on Cisse hasn’t been named for legal reasons, but I fear he’s onto his ‘nefarious’ acts again given Cisse’s present barren spell.