Cole suspended for Gunners

Arsenal defender Ashley Cole was today handed a two-match ban and fined £2,000 (€3,040) following his verbal outburst at referee Paul Durkin at Southampton in November.

Cole pleaded guilty to the charge of using ‘abusive and/or insulting words’ towards a match official but did not attend the FA misconduct hearing.

The disciplinary commission imposed the punishment in the absence, with the ban taking immediate effect and ruling him out of Sunday’s Premiership game at home to West Ham, as well as the FA Cup tie against Farnborough.