Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has been banned for two matches and fined £15,000 after a row during his former club West Ham United’s relegation battle with Bolton last April.
Cole was found guilt of improper conduct and using abusive and insulting language to a match official during the match last season. Cole was also warned about his future conduct.
Cole joined Chelsea in the close season after West Ham were relegated to the first division.
The match at the Reebok Stadium on April 19 was a tense affair with both clubs battling to avoid relegation. Tempers flared when West Ham’s Ian Pearce was sent off and players continued to remonstrate with each other after the final whistle had been blown.
