Cole inquiry under threat

THE Ashley Cole tapping inquiry faces the prospect of being fatally undermined after it emerged that the key witness will not be able to give evidence.

Pini Zahavi, who played a major role in the secret meeting between the defender and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at a London hotel, cannot be called by investigators because his registration as an agent is in Israel.

Cole gave his evidence yesterday to investigator Nick Fitzpatrick at the headquarters of the Premier League's lawyers, Denton Wilde Sapte.