Footballer Carlton Cole was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving in
central London, it has emerged. The 24-year-old West Ham striker was stopped
by police while driving on Victoria Embankment near the Thames at 0425 BST
on Tuesday. He was given a roadside breath test and taken to a nearby police
station where he was later bailed, police said. Mr Cole did not play during
the club's tie against Watford on Tuesday evening because of a foot injury.
He must answer bail at a central London police station in November
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Fulham v West Ham Utd: preview - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 25th September 2008
By: Preview Percy
Next up we have a short but expensive trip down by the riverside to Fulham,
a strange club owned by a strange man that even the current Government deems
too untrustworthy to be granted a UK passport. Fayed (The "Al" is an
affectation – a bit like me calling myself "Lord" Percy – not actually
illegal but a bit of a pose nevertheless) is charging us £48 quid to sit in
the Putney Stand.
Those familiar with "The Cottage" (no, not you Mr Michael) will be aware
that this is an edifice that has a slightly greater sense of permanence than
one of those temporary stands from which fat Americans shout "In The Hole"
during golf tournaments, but only just. Still, after all these years of
attending matches I am pleased to announce that I finally have a ticket for
the legendary row "Z" where all those shots and clearances end up. Joking
apart £48 to sit in a metal stand seems more than a little steep, given that
they still have season tickets on sale at £299 for the season.
Our opponents, like ourselves have started with a 100% home record and, also
like ourselves have failed to pick up any points on the road. They currently
lie in 11th position having played a game less than most due to having drawn
Man Utd's name out of the fixture hat for the weekend that Fergie's mob
spent in Monaco not quite contesting the so-called Super Cup which is, of
course, the traditional curtain-raiser to months of moaning from Old
Trafford about fixture congestion. Fulham's two home victories to date came
against an out of sorts Arsenal (1-0) and a usual standard Bolton (2-1),
whilst their defeats came up at Blackburn (1-0) and at Hull (2-1). Like us
they went out of the League Cup to lower league opposition in midweek –
though like us their 1-0 defeat (at Burnley) featured a less than
full-strength XI.
The opposition line-up will of course have a familiar look to it and there
will be a number of players of whom it will be said that the face rings a
bell. In front of Mark Schwarzer is likely to be a back four comprising of
Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland in the middle, with ex-Hammers Paul
Konchesky and John Paintsil in the fll-back positions. The latter became
inexplicably popular amongst student types during his spell at the Boleyn
all on the strength of a half decent 20 minute spell in the 2-1 win over Man
Utd. One ex-Hammer who won't be there is Ian Pearce, who was released at the
end of last term and is playing in the Surrey South Eastern Combination for
Oxted & District, where his match subs are £2.50 – half price because he is
unemployed!
In the middle Zoltan Gera arrived during the close season from West Brom and
is first choice on the left of a four-man midfield. Another ex-Hammer Jimmy
Bullard will line up alongside Danny Murphy in the middle of the four.
Murphy's missus used to moan that she didn't get invited to enough film
premieres when the player was at Charlton. Presumably she discovered fairly
quickly that even Primark don't invite you to their store openings if you
play for Tottenham and will no doubt be more than happy with the staff
discount at Harrods that the Fulham squad presumably get. Simon Davies
completes the four on the right.
Up front we are likely to see Bobby Zamora who seems to be enjoying the
responsibility and stability the knowledge that you are first choice striker
brings - his goal in the victory over Bolton was a fine strike. He will line
up alongside Andy Johnson who arrived during the window from Everton with a
continuing reputation for "selective instability" around the box. Getting a
reputation for diving whilst playing in a city that contains Steve Gerrard
must have been annoying for Johnson, who now finds himself playing just up
the road from the entire Chelsea squad. "Out of the frying-pan" as they say.
Since Johnson's recovery from the injury that delayed his debut, the
aforementioned eleven would appear to have been boss Roy Hodgson's preferred
starting line-up and my research (yes I do some) suggests that the same
eleven went through the whole 90 minutes without substitution up at
Blackburn, a most unusual occurrence in this day and age – especially when
you consider that Bullard apparently came in for some "treatment" from the
home side. I guess that when you've had a real injury, as Bullard did a
while back, you're less likely to make a meal of stuff that isn't as
serious. Other squad members who might make an appearance include the Korean
Seol, of whom recent message board comment has been less than complimentary,
and American midfielder Clint Dempsey who must have a real name that he's
not sharing with us hidden away on a birth certificate somewhere at home. If
he's not selected expect to see him somewhere in the Putney Stand shouting
"In The Hole".
As for us, well it's been an interesting week so far. The arbitration
panel's abandonment of common sense in favour of guesswork was coupled with
our now traditional exit to lower league opposition in the League Cup,
though to be fair a number of players were given the night off up at
Watford. It'll be interesting to see whether Zola persists with what was,
for us anyway, an innovative 4-3-2-1 line-up though much, as ever, will
depend upon who is actually fit and available to start. Given the side we
had available last week playing in the same manner as we did for much of the
game, I can see us picking up something on the road for the first time this
season, though the presence of Zamora in the opposition line up line-up
means that the unwritten law that states ex-players always score against us
is likely to come into play. (though obviously I'd prefer to be fielding his
shots from my vantage point in Row Z). We may therefore have to settle for a
point so I'll go for a 2-2 draw for this one.
Enjoy the game!
Last season: 0-1 – Solano's late scrambled effort failed to impress the
travelling support whose chants of "Too ****ing negative" left the
management in no doubt how they felt.
Danger man: Jimmy Bullard is always a worry at set pieces and Bobby Zamora
will have a point to prove.
Look out for: "Diddy" David Hamilton (younger readers please note he is no
relation to P Diddy). Also, lost fat Americans shouting "In The Hole" and
"Lord" Percy of Preview cowering under the onslaught in Row Z.
Last five KUMB.com match reports
Fulham 0 West Ham Utd 1 (23rd February 2008): link
West Ham Utd 2 Fulham 1 (12th January 2008): link
West Ham Utd 3 Fulham 3 (13th January 2007): link
West Ham Utd 2 Fulham 1 (23th January 2006): link
Fulham 1 West Ham Utd 2 (17th September 2005): link
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Cole arrest confirmed - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 25th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
It has been confirmed that United striker Carlton Cole was arrested in the
early hours of Tuesday morning after he failed a breath test. It was
revealed on the KUMB.com forums yesterday that the striker had been arrested
on suspicion of drink driving. According to one newspaper report today, the
24-year-old was stopped for driving erratically along the Victoria
Embankment at just after 4am. A Met spokesman is quoted as saying: "At
4.25am on 23rd September police pulled over an Audi Q7 on Victoria
Embankment. "A 24-year-old driver was spoken to and arrested on suspicion of
driving with excess alcohol. He was taken to a central London police station
and later bailed."
Cole was then taken to Belgravia police station where he was locked up for
several hours before being released alter in the morning. He is understood
to have been narrowly over the legal limit. The news is the latest blow to
West Ham United in what has proved an extremely difficult week. On Tuesday
an independent tribunal found against the club in their ongoing battle with
hypocrites Sheffield United whilst Gianfranco Zola's side were knocked out
of the Carling Cup by struggling Championship club Watford's reserve team
later that day. Of equal concern to Hammers fans however is the question of
why Cole was driving his car through the centre of London at 4:30am on a
weekday night, when he was due to attend training at Chadwell Heath less
than six hours later.
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Lording it up - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 25th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
FA Chairman Lord Triesman has expressed his disappointment at West Ham
United's decision to appeal against the recent tribunal ruling which found
in Sheffield United's favour. Tottenham supporter Triesman, talking to Sky
Sports this morning, said: "If it is going to go through the courts it is
going to drag on, and on, and on.
"I never cease to be amazed about the ability of lawyers to argue about
these things and that is peoples' right of course - but I think it would be
much simpler for people to observe the rules of football. "The FA is a
pretty decent regulatory body and there is no reason why a very big club
shouldn't feel that it should regard those rules too." The FA have been
accused of using Sheffield United as a pawn in their long-running feud with
the Premier League (represented in the case by West Ham United).
West Ham confirmed yesterday evening that they would be referring the
(ridiculous) findings of the three-man panel to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport in Switzerland.
Meanwhile it has been revealed that journalist Henry Winter - who spoke at
the tribunal in order to confirm his opinion that West Ham would not have
won at Old Trafford on the final day of the 2006/07 season but for Carlos
Tevez's inclusion - actually gave his man of the match award to West Ham
United's goalkeeper Robert Green.
* Lord Triesman is a former member of the Communist Party and the one-time
General Secretary of the Labour Party. He became the FA's first independent
Chiarman in January of this year.
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Cole Arrested For Drink Driving
25/09/2008 14:03
West Ham United forward Carlton Cole has been arrested on suspicion of
drunk-driving...The 24 year-old was stopped by police in his Audi Q7 on
Victoria Embankment in London in the early hours of Tuesday morning and
given a roadside breath-test. Upon the results being delivered, Cole was
remanded in custody in a nearby police station and was later released on
bail. A police spokesperson told the press: "At about 4.25am on September
23, police pulled over an Audi Q7 on Victoria Embankment, SW1. "A
24-year-old driver was spoken to and subsequently arrested on suspicion of
driving with excess alcohol. He was taken to a central London police station
and bailed to return on a date in mid-November."
A bad week turns worse for new Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola. After learning
that the club faced a £30million pay-out to Sheffield United over the Carlos
Tevez fiasco came elimination from the Carling Cup to Championship side
Watford. Cole did not feature in that tie due to a foot injury, but has been
a first team regular under Zola at Upton Park since the new manager's
arrival.The pair are acquainted from their days together at Chelsea.
Peter Staunton
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West Ham hire legal whizz who brokered Tevez move to United to fight £30m
demand - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 11:44 AM on 25th September 2008
West Ham have recruited legal eagle Maurice Watkins in their fight against a
£30million payout in the Carlos Tevez affair. The Hammers turned to
ex-Manchester United director and solicitor Watkins after sacking their
lawyers, Travers Smith, following Monday's ruling, reports the Sun. An
independent tribunal ruled that the Hammers are liable to pay up to £30m
compensation to Sheffield United for breaking Premier League rules to sign
Tevez, who went on to play a key role in keeping Hammers in the top-flight
and condemning the Blades to relegation in 2007. The Argentina striker
subsequently moved to Old Trafford where Watkins, who acts as the club's
legal advisor, helped to untangle the complex transfer. Tevez's advisor Kia
Joorabchian, West Ham and the Premier League were in dispute over who owned
the player's registration. FIFA were called in and Tevez was finally allowed
to sign for United after Joorabchian paid £2m to West Ham.
Watkins will lead West Ham's appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport in
Switzerland. A club statement read: 'We do not accept that one player's
contribution can be placed over that of the team as a whole nor used as the
basis for judging the results of a 38-game season. 'This ruling undermines
the significant efforts of our entire squad and coaching staff over the
duration of the 2006-07 Premier League season and does not take sufficient
account of the performances of the other 19 clubs in the competition. 'We
acknowledge again that the club broke Premier League rules in the original
signing of Carlos Tevez but we were dealt with accordingly by an independent
Premier League commission and accepted the significant punishment handed
down at that time.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers appeal annoys FA chief - TeamTalk
Lord Triesman has criticised West Ham for appealing against an independent
tribunal which ruled against them over the Carlos Tevez affair. A Premier
League arbitration panel found West Ham guilty of breaking league rules over
the transfers of Tevez and Javier Mascherano in April 2007. The league
fined the Hammers £5.5million but decided not to deduct points, and the club
went on to escape relegation at Sheffield United's expense. Tevez played a
major role in West Ham's miraculous end-of-season form which saved them; a
turn of events that infuriated Sheffield United. The Blades have continued
their battle against West Ham and an independent FA tribunal ruled in their
favour earlier this week, which means the London club could be liable to pay
as much as £30million compensation. However, the Hammers have reacted by
confirming they are planning to appeal the decision at the Court of
Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. But FA chairman Triesman is not happy
that West Ham are to appeal the latest ruling. "If it is going to go through
the courts it is going to drag on, and on, and on," he told Sky Sports News.
"I never cease to be amazed about the ability of lawyers to argue about
these things and that is peoples' right of course - but I think it would be
much simpler for people to observe the rules of football. "The FA is a
pretty decent regulatory body and there is no reason why a very big club
shouldn't feel that it should regard those rules too."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FOOTBALL LOSES IN SORRY SAGA - Daily Express
Wednesday September 24,2008
By Mick Dennis
LET'S nail some of the myths in the Carlos Tevez affair, and let's start
with the ludicrous lie that he kept West Ham in the Premier League. The
arrival of Tevez and Javier Mascherano in 2006 was hugely disruptive to West
Ham. Players who had reached the FA Cup final the previous season reacted
badly to having superstars parachuted into their midst. They lost eight and
drew one of the next nine games, failing to score in seven of them.
Mascherano was quickly dropped and Tevez stomped out of the ground after
being substituted in November. Yet the first two-thirds of that season, when
the Argentinians were disruptive and dispirited, are forgotten. Instead,
folk look only at the climax to the campaign. It is true that the seven
goals Tevez scored that season all came in the final 10 games and that West
Ham won seven of their last 11. But goalkeeper Rob Green was outstanding,
and so was the way manager Alan Curbishley prepared and deployed his men. To
suggest it was all down to Tevez is to demonstrate a profound ignorance of
football.
And it is a wilful revision of history to suggest that Sheffield United did
not deserve to go down. They scored only eight away goals all season, lost
14 away games and lost eight of their last 11 fixtures. They were the third
worst team in the division.
Now let's kill the canard that West Ham's use of Tevez was especially dodgy.
The London club did deliberately deceive the Premier League and, when
challenged, continued to lie. It was shameful behaviour. Yet if they had
declared all the facts at the outset, then Tevez could have been properly
registered – just as his move to Manchester United and Mascherano's transfer
to Liverpool were legitimate.
The rules West Ham broke relate to "third-party influence" but, crucially,
none was exerted. Finally, let's deal with the paranoid delusion that the
Premier League had shown favouritism to West Ham or treated Sheffield United
with disdain. It's just tosh.
The League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, was apoplectic when he
learnt that West Ham had lied to him. The League set up an independent
commission, comprising a QC who specialises in fraud, an experienced
arbitration expert and a neutral official from the Football League. They hit
West Ham with a record £5.5million fine.
Sheffield United appealed. So another independent panel was convened. They
heard no evidence from West Ham yet said a points penalty might have been
appropriate.
Importantly, however, the second panel decided that the original tribunal
had acted properly and that their decision was not perverse enough to
overturn.
United went to the High Court, and lost again. The court said the Premier
League had acted properly and fairly and that it would have been wrong for
the Premier League to have intervened in the independent procedures of the
two tribunals.
Yet United talked about going to the European Court of Justice. Instead they
went to the FA – and now a precedent has been set. If your club is
relegated, find someone else to blame, brief your lawyers, and keep fighting
until somebody sees things your way.
United have secured their victory. But football has suffered a damaging
defeat.
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Carlton Cole arrested on suspicion of drink-driving•
West Ham striker pulled over and given breath test
Bail set for mid-November at London police station
Robin Lynch and agencies guardian.co.uk, Thursday September 25 2008 14:04
BST
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has been on arrested on suspicion of
drink-driving. The 24-year-old was stopped by police while driving on
Victoria Embankment in London at 4.25am on Tuesday. Cole was given a
roadside breath test and taken to a nearby police station where he was later
bailed. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "At about 4.25am on
September 23, police pulled over an Audi Q7 on Victoria Embankment, SW1. "A
24-year-old driver was spoken to and subsequently arrested on suspicion of
driving with excess alcohol. He was taken to a central London police station
and bailed to return on a date in mid-November."
Cole was rested for the club's tie against Watford on Tuesday evening
because of a foot injury.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole arrest completes unwelcome hat-trick for new Hammers boss - Echo
1:13pm Thursday 25th September 2008
WELCOME to the wonderful world of West Ham United, Gianfranco Zola! After a
stress-free opening week in charge that saw him successfully secure the
services of first-team coach Steve Clarke before romping to a 3-1 Premier
League victory over Newcastle United, the Italian must be wondering what he
has let himself in for.
First, news emerged that an independent tribunal had found against the club
and for Sheffield United's £30million compensation claim over the Carlos
Tevez affair.
Next, on Tuesday evening, Zola watched on as stand-in goalkeeper Jan
Lastuvka and Hayden Mullins combined to hand Watford a shock 1-0 Carling Cup
third round victory at Vicarage Road. Then, to complete an unwanted
hat-trick, the Sardinian received news that injured striker Carlton Cole had
been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving in the early hours of Tuesday
morning. Zola's former Chelsea team-mate was stopped by police while driving
along Victoria Embankment, close to Westminster Bridge, in his £50,000 Audi
Q7 at around 4.30am Cole, 24, was given a roadside breath test and arrested
before being taken to Belgravia police station where he gave a voluntary
blood sample. As is normal police procedure, the player's fingerprints,
photograph and a DNA saliva sample were taken from him. He was then locked
in a cell for several hours before being bailed pending further inquiries. A
Metropolitan Police spokesman told The Sun: "At 4.25am on 23 September
police pulled over an Audi Q7 on Victoria Embankment. "A 24-year-old driver
was spoken to and arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol. He
was taken to a central London police station and later bailed." Meanwhile,
FA chairman Lord Triesman has condemned the Hammers' plan to appeal against
the tribunal's decision over the Tevez affair. The Irons, who have hired top
sports' lawyer Maurice Watkins to handle their appeal, announced their
intention to take the matter to the Swiss-based Court for Arbitration in
Sport on Wednesday evening. But Triesman is exasperated over a matter that
saw West Ham fined £5.5million for breaking two Premier League rules over
illegal "third-party" ownership in April 2007. "If it is going to go through
the courts it is going to drag on, and on, and on," he told Sky Sports News.
"I never cease to be amazed about the ability of lawyers to argue about
these things and that is peoples' right of course - but I think it would be
much simpler for people to observe the rules of football. "The FA is a
pretty decent regulatory body and there is no reason why a very big club
shouldn't feel that it should regard those rules too." Sheffield United
believe they should be compensated after claiming they were relegated due to
Tevez's presence in the Hammers' team - a claim West Ham deny.
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West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury could face Premier League inquiry -
Telegraph
The Premier League are to decide whether to launch any action against West
Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury once they have seen the full transcript of
the tribunal's judgment in Sheffield United's arbitration case.
By Jeremy Wilson
Last Updated: 2:38PM BST 25 Sep 2008
Duxbury has been accused of providing verbal reassurances to Graham Shear,
Kia Joorabchian's solicitor, suggesting that the club would honour the third
party agreement which was supposedly terminated so that the Argentine could
continue playing.
The tribunal believes that the league would have suspended Tevez's
registration as a West Ham player had they been aware of the conversations
between Duxbury and Shear.
The league are well aware of the potential ramifications of the allegation,
notably that, if substantiated, West Ham could stand accused of misleading
them even after being fined £5.5 million for rule breaches by an independent
disciplinary commission.
The Premier League expect to receive the tribunal's findings within the next
48 hours and will decide whether to take further action against Duxbury – or
indeed West Ham – once they have digested the findings.
Having facilitated the independent arbitration panel, the Football
Association are largely remaining out of the latest twist in the Tevez saga,
arguing that it is for Lord Griffiths, the chairman of the tribunal, to
decide if and when the judgment is publicly released.
West Ham are already fighting the case on two fronts, with the club set to
appeal the tribunal's ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while
also contesting the level of the £30.4 million compensation claim that
Sheffield United are requesting.
They would surely also contest any further action against either themselves
or Duxbury by the Premier League.
West Ham accept that they unilaterally terminated the third party agreements
and that they had conversations with Joorabchian and Shear.
However, they would argue that it was always resolved to settle the matter
at the end of the season – and probably out of court – which eventually
happened when Joorabchian paid West Ham £2 million to release Tevez's
registration and so eventually ensure his move to Manchester United.
West Ham have insisted that Duxbury's position is not under review.
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole arrested on suspicion of drink-driving -
Telegraph
Just when Gianfranco Zola thought his second full week in charge of West Ham
could not get any worse, it has been confirmed that striker Carlton Cole was
arrested earlier this week on suspicion of drink-driving.
By Vicki Hodges and agencies
Last Updated: 12:44PM BST 25 Sep 2008
First Zola had to come to terms with news that the club faced a potential
£30 million compensation pay-out to Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez
affair. Then on Tuesday evening Zola watched his side crash out of the
Carling Cup to Championship side Watford. Now it has been confirmed that
injured striker Cole was arrested in the the early hours of Tuesday morning,
thereby adding to Zola's problems at Upton Park. The 24-year-old was stopped
by police while driving his Audi Q7 on Victoria Embankment near the River
Thames. Cole was given a roadside breath test and taken to a nearby police
station where he was later bailed. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said:
"At about 4.25am on September 23, police pulled over an Audi Q7 on Victoria
Embankment, SW1. "A 24-year-old driver was spoken to and subsequently
arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol. He was taken to a
central London police station and bailed to return on a date in
mid-November."
Cole was rested for the club's tie against Watford on Tuesday evening
because of a foot injury. Zola has said Cole has the potential to play for
England if his good form continues on the pitch. Cole is of Nigerian and
Sierra Leonean descent, but rejected the chance to play for either of their
national sides. The former Chelsea trainee has represented England
Under-21s, and scored six goals in 19 appearances.
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