England full-back Ashley Cole has failed in his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the £75,000 (€109,000) fine imposed for breaking Premier League rules by discussing a transfer to Chelsea last season.

Ashley Cole will take his battle against the Premier League’s guilty verdict against him in the tapping-up affair with Chelsea to the highest authority in sport.

The English Premier League was today accused of illegal price-fixing over the sale of exclusive broadcasting rights to screen matches.