Future in doubt for guilty Cole

Ashley Cole's Arsenal future was thrown into doubt today after he was found guilty of breaching Premier League rules by meeting Chelsea in the infamous 'tapping-up' row.

Chelsea and their manager Jose Mourinho were also found guilty of breaking Premier League rules by illegal ly approaching the Arsenal star but Cole is left in limbo over his contract negotiations.

Cole heard the verdict in person at the Premier League's meeting in Marble Arch today after jetting in from New York following England's 3-2 win over Colombia last night.

His negotiations with Arsenal have stalled as Cole - who is contracted until 2007 - had refused to discuss terms on a new deal. But now he has been found guilty, there is certain to be a backlash against the player from the club's fans.

Pressure on him will be increased when the fines are revealed because if his is bigger than Mourinho's and Chelsea's it will be clear he and his agent instigated the meeting.

The Arsenal defender, who still had a suitcase with him, was accompanied by his agent Jonathan Barnett and his lawyers Graham Shear and David Pannick QC.

They now have 14 days to decide on an appeal.

Cole's legal team may also go to the European Courts to challenge the rules which stop players under contract from talking to other clubs, claiming they are out of line with the laws ordinary workers face.

The Football Association will now ask the Premier League for the hearing documentation before deciding whether to take further disciplinary action against Barnett. An FA spokesman said: "We are investigating this issue and will pursue any breach of FA regulations."

The FA are responsible for policing the behaviour of all UK-registered agents.

They cannot take action against Pini Zahavi because he is registered in Israel but they can recommend that FIFA intervene. Both agents could be hit with fines or even have their licences revoked. Cole was found in breach of Premier League rule K5, which prohibited him from approaching Chelsea with a view to negotiating a transfer, without permission from Arsenal. Chelsea were determined to have broken rule K3, forbidding them approaching Cole by any means while under contract. Mourinho was in breach of rule Q, governing managers' conduct.

The Premier League acted following newspaper reports in January that Cole, Mourinho and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon met at the Royal Park Hotel in Lancaster Gate, London.