FA hand Cole two-match ban

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has been fined £15,000 (€21,500) and suspended for two matches by the FA for an incident which occurred when he was still a West Ham player.

The England international was involved in a fracas at the end of a game at Bolton in April.

Players from both sides squared up at the end of the 1-0 defeat and Cole, then Hammers captain, was seen to throw punches in the direction of Bernard Mendy.

Cole will miss the game at Charlton on Boxing Day and at home to Portsmouth on Sunday, December 28.

Trouble flared after Hammers defender Ian Pearce had been dismissed at the end of the game for a reckless challenge on substitute Pierre-Yves Andre.

Glenn Roeder, West Ham manager at the time, said he understood why Cole had reacted.

“It is natural,” he said.

“Joe carried the game to Bolton as much as he could. He is very passionate about West Ham and did everything he could on the day.”

The defeat to Bolton left the Londoners six points adrift of safety with only four games remaining of a campaign which saw them relegated.