Ashley Cole is to appeal against a Premier League punishment for his role in the Arsenal defender’s “tapping up” by rivals Chelsea.
Cole was fined £100,000, Chelsea £300,000 and their manager Jose Mourinho £200,000 after all three were found guilty last Wednesday of breaking Premier League rules by meeting at a London hotel in January without receiving prior permission from Cole’s club Arsenal.
Cole was given 14 days to appeal and a Premier League spokesman said on Monday: “I can confirm that his legal team have lodged an appeal.”
A three-man Premier League appeals board will now be formed. It will comprise a legally-qualified independent chairman and two members of the Football Association (FA) Council.
Cole was found guilty of approaching another club with a view to negotiating a contract without obtaining the prior written consent of his club.