• Premier League

Ashley Cole accepts FA charge over Twitter rant

ESPN staff
October 11, 2012
Ashley Cole has requested a personal hearing © Getty Images
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Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has accepted a Football Association charge of improper conduct over comments he made on Twitter.

Cole was charged with bringing the game into disrepute after branding the FA hierarchy a 'bunch of t**ts' in a Twitter remark last week, after learning that a report into John Terry's recent disciplinary hearing had cast doubts over the veracity of Cole's version of events.

The 31-year-old immediately apologised for his comment, and has now accepted the charge brought against him.

"Ashley Cole has admitted an FA charge in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute," an FA statement read.

"Cole has requested a non-personal hearing, the date of which has yet to be set."

Cole is expected to be fined for his outburst, but is not expected to receive a ban at either club or international level. The former Arsenal full-back is just two caps from reaching 100 for the Three Lions.

Cole's outburst came after he contributed to an FA investigation into John Terry's alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last season. The Chelsea captain was fined £220,000 and banned for four games for his conduct, with the FA deciding his claim that he used offensive words in 'sarcastic exclamation' - as claimed in a summer court case on the same matter, in which he was found not guilty - was "improbabl, implausible and contrived".

Cole's witness account in support of his club team-mate was also questioned, leading Cole to tweet: "Hahahahaa, well done #fa I lied did I, #BUNCHOFT**TS."

He subsequently apologised, but will still be punished for the matter.

"I was really upset and tweeted my feelings in the heat of the moment," Cole said. "I apologise unreservedly for my comment about the FA."

Cole also faces internal disciplinary action from his club - Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo confirmed on Saturday that the Englishman would be punished by the west London side.

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