Soccer: More apologies than goals Ashley Cole

It is a curious fact that, since he joined Chelsea in August 2006, Ashley Cole has proffered more official public apologies than he has scored goals for the club that made him the best-paid left-back in the world.

Public apologies: 2 (to referee Mike Riley last March and yesterday to the police officers who arrested him for being drunk and disorderly on Thursday). Goals: 1.

Once again yesterday, Cole was desperately trying to salvage what remains of his good name by claiming that his frustrations with paparazzi after a night out with his Chelsea teammates led to him swearing at police outside the Collection nightclub in West London.

The question, as ever, is when is Ashley Cole going to learn? Meet him and he does not come across like an unpleasant rich footballer - he just happens to be guilty of some of the worst judgment calls in the history of the modern game.

There's his infamous derision of Arsenal's 55,000-a-week ($155,000) contract offer, the manner of his departure from Arsenal, his contempt towards Riley, and Thursday's episode.

The public would probably add to that list his infidelity to his wife Cheryl. The sad story is that Cole, 28, should be one of English football's most-cherished players, a kid from Stepney from a single-parent family who made it at Arsenal despite the competition of a squad that then included some of the best footballers in the world. Instead, Cole is now the default option when opposition fans pick out a Chelsea player to boo.

Cole was eager to emphasise in his apology that he was swearing out of frustration at the paparazzi. He also wanted to point out that his alcohol-consumption was not "excessive". He was out with John Terry and Michael Mancienne and the late night during this busy time of the season does not look good for any of them.

Chelsea have not indicated whether they have initiated a disciplinary process for Cole and claim that they will not disclose whether or not they will fine him the maximum two weeks' wages, around 220,000, on top of the 80 he had to pay the police. The signs are that the club regard the apology as sufficient. Yet the disciplinarian Cole must fear most is not Guus Hiddink, who needs every player he has to resurrect Chelsea's season, but the England manager, Fabio Capello.

This will be the first time that Capello must deal with a senior England player stepping out of line.

Cole's latest mistake will undoubtedly be a major issue in the build-up to England's friendly against Slovakia on March 28 and, unlike Steven Gerrard's charge of assault and affray, Cole has admitted wrongdoing.

Lord Triesman, the chairman of the FA, was expected to be asked about the Cole incident by fans when he took part in a question-and-answer session last night.

What Cole neglected to mention in his statement was that earlier on Thursday he had attended a club event for Chelsea's two charities: CLIC Sargent and Right to Play. The entire Chelsea first-team squad were in attendance and, thanks to Cole's subsequent behaviour, the two charities have probably never had so much coverage.

As for Chelsea officials who organised the day, they were probably more hopeful that the night would be remembered for their good works. Cole's lack of judgment had let him down again but, while he remains useful to Chelsea and England, he is destined to be forgiven yet again.

- INDEPENDENT