Cole to continue appeal

Ashley Cole will take his battle against the Premier League’s guilty verdict over the tapping-up affair with Chelsea to the highest authority in sport.

The Arsenal defender had his initial £100,000 fine reduced to £75,000 by an Premier League appeals committee yesterday but is determined to carry on the fight against the verdict on a point of principle.

A statement from the player’s solicitor, Graham Shear of Teacher, Stern and Selby, said: “We have considered the appeal committee’s comments overnight and discussed the same with Ashley Cole.

“Ashley is absolutely adamant that he will be proceeding to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as he remains entirely dissatisfied with the result.

“It is interesting to note that Mr Mourinho and Chelsea seem happy with their fines and punishments, however my client feels that he has done little if anything wrong and therefore is not satisfied.”