Chelsea, Cole and Mourinho heavily fined
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-02 08:44

English Premiership champions Chelsea were fined 300,000 pounds and handed a suspended three points deduction for tapping up Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole, the Premier League announced. 

Jose Mourinho, Ashley Cole, seen here, and Chelsea have all been found guilty of breaching Premier League rules following allegations of the London club 'tapping up' the England defender[AFP]

Cole himself was fined 100,000 pounds while Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho received a fine of 200,000 pounds after all three parties had been found guilty of breaching Premier League rules following allegations of the London club 'tapping up' the England defender.

All three guilty parties later announced they would appeal with Chelsea especially angered at the sanctions imposed and pointing the finger of blame more at Arsenal for making such a issue out of it.

"We are very disappointed, even shocked at the sanctions," said Chelsea's American chairman Bruce Buck.

"The tribunal in its findings clearly said that Chelsea had been approached by agents on behalf of Ashley Cole and then came to the conclusion that the fact we went to the meeting with Ashley Cole made us a guilty party.

"We disagree. We believe that attending the meeting does not go over the line.

"Having said that the sanctions are totally disproportionate. We are certainly going to appeal and look forward to making this right at a future time."

Buck said that he felt sorry for Cole.

"I think it is an unfortunate situation. He is a fine young man, who was caught up in this situation.

"At the hearing two weeks ago Jose Mourinho was asked how would he react if John Terry had been discovered talking to Arsenal in the bar after a match and Mourinho handled it beautifully.

"He said he would call the player in and ask him what was the problem and if it was a football issue he would have gone out of his way to resolve it. If it was a financial one he would have gone to Peter Kenyon and the board and told them to resolve it.

"In this case the players' current club (Arsenal) didn't try and resolve anything but made it into a spectacle which I think inappropriate and not in the best interests of the player or football."

Cole announced through his solicitor Graham Shear that he would be appealing.

"This sends entirely the wrong message. English football have lost the message that a footballer is an employee, it is more like the master and servant of centuries ago.

"Footballers are modern employees, but they can only speak to a future employer five weeks before their contract ends.

"This leaves the clubs entirely in control and it is unsatisfactory," Shear said.

The Premier League stated that the financial penalty imposed on Cole would mean "it is unlikely that Ashley Cole will ever be tempted in this way again."

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said that the outcome drew a line under the affair.

"We as a club did not want to see Ashley punished.

"It is a closed chapter and we are looking to the future.

"We will sit down with Chelsea at the Premier League summer meeting on Thursday and Friday.

"We will move on and hopefully upwards," he added with a wry smile, referring to Arsenal finishing runners-up to Chelsea in the Premiership.

"There is a three 3 point deduction which will be a deterrent for the future. I certainly think it is a significant punishment."

Dein expressed his wish that Cole, who flew back from the United States after playing in England's 3-2 victory over Colombia on Tuesday to appear personally, would remain with the club.

"Ashley is still our player, He still has two years on his contract and we want him to stay. We have nurtured him since he was nine years old.He is a world class player and we hope his career with us will go on even longer.

"He has been punished today. People make mistakes in life and the wounds must be healed."

As for Cole appealing, Dein said that was up to him.

"Thats' his prerogative but I hope it doesn't go on too long."

An independent commission gave their verdict after meeting at the Premier League's headquarters in London on Wednesday.

The Premier League had strong words of condemnation for Cole and especially Mourinho, who despite guiding Chelsea to their first title in 50 years and the League Cup has found himself in trouble with the Premier League and UEFA through last season.

"Jose Mourinho played a pivotal role in the meeting," said a Premier League spokesman.

"He agreed to accompany Peter Kenyon (Chelsea chief executive) even though he did not have to go and was the key component in the matter."

The Premier League were also scathing about the roles played by Cole's agent Jonathan Barnett and the so-called 'super agent' Pini Zahavi, but the body has no remit to punish them.

"We recommend that the responsible bodies concerned should investigate the roles of Pini Zahavi and Jonathan Barnett," said the spokesman.

Dein said he hoped that something would be done about agents.

"Everybody is concerned about agents and everyone is looking at how to control them.

"The FA and FIFA hopefully will look into this matter over the next few weeks and act accordingly."

All the parties have 14 days to lodge an appeal and 21 days to pay the fines.

Close

Suns stop Spurs IOC inspects construction sites in Beijing David Beckham to join England's squad in game against Colombia

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Government reveals plan to combat AIDS         Taipei urged to talk on mainland gifts         22 die in Hunan mountain torrents         Badawi raps US-Japan view of China as threat         Dutch voters reject EU constitution         China: UN Council resolution dangerous	Chelsea, Cole and Mourinho heavily fined       Real say Figo can move       Pistons tie series       Argentine Puerta reaches French Open semis       10 Athens vets on US women's soccer squad       NBA labor talks stall in New York