LONDON: Ashley Cole has returned from England’s World Cup trip to Poland to pick up a £90,000 fine over a foul-mouthed Twitter attack on the Football Association.

The Chelsea leftback admitted a charge of making a comment on the social network which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.

He had labelled the FA a “bunch of t***s” after an independent regulatory commission of the governing body investigating the John Terry racial abuse case had cast doubt on Cole’s evidence.

Within hours Cole, 31, had withdrawn the message and apologised via his solicitor. Later he apologised in person to FA chairman David Bernstein.

An FA statement said: “Chelsea’s Ashley Cole has been fined £90,000 after he admitted an FA charge in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.

“Cole, who had requested a non-personal hearing, was also warned as to his future conduct.”

The outburst two weeks ago was retweeted more than 19,000 times – just two days after Bernstein had talked with the England squad about a new code of conduct which would include reference to the use of social media.

KEIR RADNEDGE

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