Chelsea fined by Premier League

Chelsea FC, their manager José Mourinho and Arsenal FC's English international left-back Ashley Cole have all been fined heavily after the Premier League concluded their investigation into allegations the English champions made an illegal approach for Cole.

Sizeable fines
Chelsea were fined €445,000 and warned they will be deducted three points if they are found guilty of a similar offence next season. Mourinho, meanwhile, was fined €300,000 and Cole €150,000 after both were found guilty of breaching Premier League rules.

Illegal approach
The Premier League reached its decisions following an inquiry by an independent commission into allegations that Chelsea made an illegal approach to Cole - who still has two years left on his contract with Arsenal - in January in an attempt to sign the England full-back. All the parties have 14 days in which to appeal and both Chelsea and Cole's lawyers immediately announced they would do so.