Chelsea facing record fine

CHELSEA could face one of the biggest financial penalties ever handed out in football when the verdict is announced today over their alleged illegal approach for Ashley Cole.

The independent three-man commission, chaired by High Court judge Sir Philip Otton, will rule on the conduct of Chelsea, Cole and Jose Mourinho after a two-day hearing earlier this month.

This follows allegations that Mourinho, Cole and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon secretly met at a London hotel along with Cole's agent, Jonathan Barnett, and Chelsea's 'super agent' Pini Zahavi.