Source: Daily_Mail
Just when you thought it was OK to admire Ashley Cole again...
Ashley Cole has issued a grovelling apology after spending Wednesday night in a police cell following his arrest on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. [LNB]The Chelsea [LNB]and England defender, who spent three hours in custody, had to pay an £80 fixed penalty after swearing at police officers outside a West London nightclub following an altercation with the paparazzi. [LNB]But, despite his act of contrition, Cole is expected to be hit with a £164,000 fine - two weeks' wages - by his club. Manager Guus Hiddink, renowned for being a strict disciplinarian, is sure to take a dim view of yet another blot on Cole's copybook. [LNB] Eye on the ball: Cole has been in impressive form this season[LNB]The transgression is the latest in a long list that has caused Cole to become the embodiment of everything that is wrong with the modern footballer in the eyes of many opposition fans and even some Chelsea supporters. It comes at a time when his wife Cheryl is climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of Comic Relief. [LNB] Chelsea star 'Trashley' Cole arrested after drunken 2am confrontation with police[LNB]Chelsea sacked Scolari over Big Phil's feud with Drogba, claims striker's agent[LNB]Ivanovic plots Chelsea exit with his sights on Fiorentina[LNB]CHELSEA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]The misdemeanour is all the more unfortunate given Cole's form this season. The 28-year-old full back even managed to shine under the haphazard management of Hiddink's predecessor, Luiz Felipe Scolari. But one should never underestimate Cole's ability to take the gloss off his performances with his antics on and off the pitch. Acknowledging that his behaviour had been damaging to Chelsea's image, especially considering he had attended a charity event organised by the club and Italian fashion house Armani, a statement from Cole read: 'I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the police officers on duty last night for my language. [LNB]'I felt I was being harassed by paparazzi and while complaining to the police about this at the scene, they did warn me to calm down, a warning that I regrettably did not heed. [LNB]'I fully appreciate that, whatever frustrations I may have had with others, it was completely inappropriate to vent those in conversations with the police. However, I do want to make clear that I swore in frustration at the paparazzi's behaviour. I would never disrespect police officers in any way. [LNB]England pride: but coach Fabio Capello may take a dim view of Cole's antics[LNB] 'I take very seriously my responsibilities as a professional footballer; these include keeping my body in the best condition. Although I had consumed some alcohol earlier in the evening on a night out with friends it had not been excessive. [LNB]'But I accept that the language I used on this occasion was wrong. I regret my actions and how they reflect on myself and Chelsea.' [LNB]Cole's claim that his drinking had not been 'excessive' would seem to contradict the offence he was arrested on suspicion of commiting. Also his assertion that he 'would never disrespect police officers in any way' would not seem to fit in with eyewitness accounts that he had sworn at officers outside the Collection nightclub in Kensington.[LNB] It remains to be seen how much weight Cole's apology will carry with Hiddink. Chelsea refused to confirm whether the left back had made it to training on Thursday ahead of Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final trip to Coventry. [LNB]Cole's behaviour may well see him dropped, although it is believed understudy Paulo Ferreira was already in line to play at the Ricoh Arena in order to keep Cole fresh for Tuesday's vital Champions League second leg at Juventus. [LNB]That Hiddink is considering such a course of action is reflective of Cole's importance to his team. He has also continued to be an integral part of the England set-up under Fabio Capello and the Italian taskmaster is likely to be equally as unimpressed with Cole's latest indiscretion as Hiddink. [LNB]From having shown a complete lack of empathy with the man in the street by reacting with incredulity to the 'measly' £55,000- a-week Arsenal offered him before he joined Chelsea to this latest incident, Cole continues to demonstrate his unwillingness to learn from his mistakes. [LNB]Snarling response: Cole has frequently been in trouble for his on-pitch behaviour[LNB] It is hardly role model behaviour to set before his army of young fans and, while the events leading up to his brief separation from pop-star wife Cheryl perhaps had no place on the sports pages, the fact that his tryst came after another night of boozing would appear to sit uncomfortably with an athlete who claims to recognise the need to keep his body, 'in the best condition'. [LNB]What certainly did belong in the sports pages was the outrageous lack of respect he showed towards referee Mike Riley last March when he turned his back on the official as he tried to issue a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Tottenham defender Alan Hutton. [LNB]Given such unsavoury incidents, it is perhaps strange that Cole feels he is given a rough ride. [LNB]In an interview given after he was booed by sections of England's supporters following a mistake that gave away a goal in the 5-1 victory over Kazakhstan last October, Cole said: 'Of course I'm not happy that everyone hates you because they don't know me and only know me through what's written.' [LNB]When what is written about is his apology for abusing police officers outside a nightclub at 2am, perhaps everyone knows all they need to know about him.[LNB] Chelsea star 'Trashley' Cole arrested after drunken 2am confrontation with police[LNB]Chelsea sacked Scolari over Big Phil's feud with Drogba, claims striker's agent[LNB]Ivanovic plots Chelsea exit with his sights on Fiorentina[LNB]CHELSEA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
