Mourinho and Cole charged over tapping saga

The Premier League today charged Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole for making an alleged illegal approach to rivals Chelsea.

Chelsea and their manager Jose Mourinho have also been separately charged for their alleged involvement in the ‘tapping up’ saga.

The 24-year-old England international was reported to have met Mourinho and Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon at a hotel in London.

A statement from the Premier League read: “Ashley Cole has been charged with a breach of Rule K5, governing approaches by players to clubs.”

The statement continued: ``Chelsea Football Club have been charged with a breach of Rule K3, governing approaches to players.

“Jose Mourinho has been charged with a breach of Rule Q, governing managers’ conduct.”

The charges follow a Premier League inquiry into reports of a illegal meeting at the Royal Park Hotel at Lancaster Gate.

Details of the supposed meeting, which agent Pini Zahavi and Cole’s agent Jonathan Barnett are alleged to have attended, was first reported on January 30.

However, Barnett and Zahavi will not face action from the Premier League, although officials have passed on details to the Football Association.

The statement continued: “As licensed agents, Mr Jonathan Barnett and Mr Pini Zahavi do not fall within the jurisdiction of the FA Premier League for the purposes of this matter.

“The board will be forwarding information gathered during the inquiry to the Football Association with a view to considering whether further steps should be taken in relation to their actions.”