The league's most hated player

Ashley Cole must be the most despised and despicable player in the Premier League - and not simply in the minds of Arsenal fans.

Cashley's acrimonious transfer from the Gunners to Chelsea was bad enough, as were the tabloid tales of his alleged extra-marital adventures.

But from a purely footballing point of view, his behaviour during Chelsea's 4-4 draw with Spurs really does take the biscuit. Cole's so-called tackle on Alan Hutton was as bad or worse than Martin Taylor's foul on Eduardo that resulted in a badly broken leg.

Cole was lucky to receive only a yellow card from Mike Riley. But did this beacon of sporting probity show any gratitude towards the referee for showing leniency? Of course not. Instead Cole pointedly turned his back on the official in a disgraceful fit of pique.

Sadly, Riley didn't do what he should have done - produce a second yellow for dissent. And he failed to include Cole's reaction to the booking in his match report, so no further action will be taken on the matter by the Football Association.

"We cannot re-referee matches," says the FA, who have to abide by daft Fifa regulations which stipulate that a decision taken by a referee can only be rectified by a disciplinary committee if the ref sends off the wrong player, or makes an obvious and serious error.

It's about time the authorities realised the amount of damage which is being done to the glorious game by players and managers who seem to think they're above the laws.

Other sports - most notably rugby - have clamped down on such behaviour, so why can't football do the same?

Is Ashley Cole a disgrace to the game? And is there a more hated player in the Premier League? Have your say below.

Comments

[Bobby Bigballs]

Justin, of course i'v got Ball's thats why my name is Bobby Bigballs - yeh, speak again after the match on Sunday when we shall be sorting scumbag Cole out - so glad THE ARSENAL got shot of him.

[Sharon]

Lesbo!! If you were here Joe I would show you what I am!!

[SteveB]

Bottom line is I just hope Capello doesnt pick any pub players like Terry, Cole and Taylor, might have talent but then they lose it - careful Lampard you might have talent but you're on the edge of reality.

[Joe]

Man - figure of speech - Sharon - you're not a lesbo are you?

[Justin]

Nice to hear from you Bobby BB, let's talk again after Sunday.

By the way your mate Toots is such a *anker at least you've got balls!!

[Sharon]

Well Joe, I cant stand up and be a man and I should think Cole would find that difficult as he's not a man but a hooligan. So what if he has apologised, actions speak louder than words and the little scumbag will only carry on being an arrigant little b*stard

[Bobby Bigballs]

Justin, my friend The Arsenal will sort scumbag Cole out on Sunday along with the rest of the maffia i.e Lampard. Terry etc -
And I think you should know that the FA can overule the ref. in certain cases. ARSENAL 2 CHELSEA 0.

[Justin]

Cole was way out of order so fair comment from everybody - well apart from Bobby Bigballs - we all know the FA can't do anything unless it's in the refs report so stop moaning and try and think of a valid comment I think Bobby BB has as much grasp of the truth as John Terry!!

PS Bobby BB have your team forgotten how to win in the Premiership - sadly YES ha ha

[brit99]

He is a total disgrace. I would say that about any player, regardless of what team he played for even my own. END OF..

[Clifford Lister]

The stakes are so high, and the rewards of success so great and the penalties for failure so severe that most footballers are given to gamesmanship or cheating. Cole is an easy target, though his personal life should be of no interest unless it impinges on his ability to perform (sic). Maybe the FA should invoke some video evidence retrospective punishment for all players regardless of whether the referee includes the incident in his match report.

[Kris]

well, cole when he was at arsenal was one of the best left backs in the world in the same league as roberto carlos an maldini but now its an embarrasement of what he has become. I really dont see how Grant can say that he should be applauded?! ok for what exactly? cheating on his wife and lets be honest who would ever cheat on a women like that!!! anyone??? walking around with his head stuck up his own arse thinking the world revolves around him? Turning his back on a club (arsenal) who supportd him through tough times and made him what he was until he turnd into an arsewhole?? the FA have really got to do something hear. hopefully capello with his reputation will sort cole out an get him back to what he was. a good football player rather than a total spoilt brat who is to overrated due to how well he played for arsenal.

[Joe]

I think Ashley is being hard done to. Now he realised what he has had done 'in the heat of the moment' he has apologised more than I can remember anybody else doing - Taylor for example.

Give him a break and what's the problem if his team mates come to support him against a referee that everybody seems to say doesn't know what he's doing.

He misjudged it and has stood up like a man and apologised - why don't the rest of you be a men and accept the apology?

[Football's gone to the dogs]

Avram Grant says Ashley is mature. If he's mature I must be the Dalai Lama. The guy is a complete moron; if he wasn't a professional footballer he would be in the Scrubs.

[stephen]

he is soooooooooooo overated with a lot of other players.
In his book he says tht he nearly crashed his car wen his maneger offered him 100,000!!!!!!!!!!

also hoo wuold chaet on a wife lyk tht!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stephen]

he is soooooooooooo overated with a lot of other players.
In his book he says tht he nearly crashed his car wen his maneger offered him 100,000!!!!!!!!!!

also hoo wuold chaet on a wife lyk tht!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[toni serruce]

Ashley Cole is the definitely the most despised footballer of present time. Who's seen a chelsea game when he hasn't whinged or spat his dummy out? Almost everytime the replays show he's wrong!!! When will this loser wake up and smell the bacon? He's got his head up his own arse and is a sad excuse for a footballer.

[wilty]

when he turned round to show the ref his back just reminded me of some of the young kids around where i live. give him an asbo!

[chip]

Surely this sort of behaviour has been tolerated for too long. The simple answer to dissent or more importantly diving by players to fool the ref into giving a feekick should be either a straight red card or a penalty to the other team. You can be sure that if this rule was adopted then these problems would disappear immediately as no manager would pick a player who did this.

[Peter]

I have followed Chelsea for 30 years and the present mob are an embarassment. Noone can defend their behaviour the other night. It was a disgrace

[rich]

first of all, ashley cole is a horrible little cretin and id take great joy in sticking my size 13 up his whiney ass.
all football, from grass roots to the big league should adopt rugbys attitude to lip back to the ref, 10 yard penalty.

[Rob]

Most of the Chelsea team are corrupting football, the sight of decent players like Lampard, Makelele etc all trying to defend Cole's actions on the pitch adds to the bad vibes coming from today's football. All they are doing is condoning the actions of a snivelling spoilt brat that isn't getting his own way. In private life as well as football life.

[Chelsea hater]

Plain and simple Cole is an overpaid yobbo. Let’s hope Cappello is as tough as he is supposed to be and Cole never plays for England again.
It was no surprise to also see those other two yobbo's Terry & Lampard intimidating the ref. Chelsea scum.

[rob]

He is a overpaid thug who needs to be brought back down to earth with a bang,but he won't money talk's in the prem and depends who the club's owners are, but saying that their are a few in the prem who are thugs

[Nico]

hes TRASH pure and simple....

[Bwre]

Ashley Cole use to be a good footballer, but his head has got to big for his shoulders which has made him in to a bloody prat which is a shame