Ashley Cole hearing over

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was not called to provide evidence to the Premier League’s three-man inquiry team as the hearing into the Ashley Cole ’tapping-up’ scandal came to a close in central London tonight.

Cole, who trained with Arsenal this morning, is understood to have provided his version of events to the independent commission along with his agent Jonathan Barnett today.

The hearing, much to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s anger, has already interfered with their FA Cup final preparations but the Frenchman was understood to have been willing to make a statement about the affair.

However the commission team decided that Wenger’s evidence was not required and will now reach a verdict sometime next week.

High Court judge Sir Phillip Otton, the man heading the Premier League inquiry, confirmed: “It depends on a lot of factors and we would like to get a decision out but I suspect because it is a point of law, we may have to delay it for a short period.

“I don’t think it will be before the end of the week, hopefully next week. We’ve heard all the evidence from Arsenal.”

The inquiry team spent two days assessing charges handed out to Cole and Chelsea which related to a meeting in a London hotel in February.

Kenyon, Mourinho, agent Pini Zahavi, Cole and his advisor Jonathan Barnett were all in attendance and the gathering was, it is alleged, a breach of rules which govern contact with players contracted to another club.

Chelsea claimed Cole and Barnett were responsible for instigating the meeting but Wenger backed the player’s version of events.

Talks over a new contract for Cole have stalled since the affair began but Wenger hopes that his intended show of support will persuade the 24-year-old to resume negotiations.

Wenger has won his battle with the Premier League over the timing of any verdict. He wanted a delay until after Saturday’s showdown clash with United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

If Chelsea are found guilty, they are extremely unlikely to be docked points. It is understood that any punishment will be in the form of a hefty fine.

Mourinho and Kenyon both attended the hearing before flying out to South Korea for a post-season friendly against Asian champions Suwon Bluewings which will be televised live on the club’s own TV channel.