Agence France Presse

London, June 2:

Player’s Football Association chief Gordon Taylor has sprung to the defence of Ashley Cole after he was fined $180,000 for holding talks with Chelsea. Taylor believes Cole was “badly advised” in attending a meeting with Chelsea and blamed his agent, Jonathan Barnett. The independent commission meted out the record punishment to Cole as well as fines $540,000 to Chelsea and $360,000 to Jose Mourinho. Taylor said he felt Cole’s fine was disproportionally high.