Ashley Cole 'accidentally' shoots student

[Grig]

Well here he goes again, this time accidentally shooting a student at their training. People are starting to have less and less respect for footballers in general. Why does he even need a gun at the training ground :S.

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...lsea-air-rifle

England defender Ashley Cole accidentally shot and wounded a 21-year-old student on work experience at his club's Cobham training ground, it was revealed last night.

The Chelsea left-back was reported to have been "larking about" with a .22 calibre air rifle when he fired at student Tom Cowan from just five feet away.

Sources at Chelsea Football Club told the News of the World how Cowan was treated by medics at the ground and allowed to rest following the incident. But two days later the wound was still weeping and he was tended to again by medical staff.

"It's truly inconceivable that a Premier League footballer could bring a gun to the training ground," a source said. "But Ashley pulled the rifle from a box and started larking about with it in the changing room."

Former Arsenal star Cole, 30, arrived at Chelsea's Cobham training ground in Surrey holding the weapon, complete with a muzzle and nightscope, last week. The incident was witnessed by a dozen members of staff, but Cole claimed he was unaware that the rifle was loaded. Cowan, a Loughborough University sports science student, was at the team's training ground as part of a year's work placement with Chelsea.

On Wednesday, he was called into a three-hour meeting with "deeply worried" Chelsea officials to discuss the accident, and a day later his father, Ronald, a 51-year-old quantity surveyor, held a second meeting at the club where he demanded to know what action would be taken against Cole.

A .22 air rifle is the most powerful type of weapon that can be legally owned in Britain without a licence. Under British law the incident could be deemed actual bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Cole, who earns £110,000 a week, is reported to have been given a severe dressing down, and has formally apologised to Cowan.

It is not the first time that Chelsea's Surrey training facility has been at the centre of controversy. In December 2009, the club's captain, John Terry, was caught asking for a £10,000 cash payment to secure behind-the-scenes tours for various individuals without the permission of manager.

Terry later claimed that the proceeds of the tours had been given to charity.

[Jessicrawrr]

idiot, has the person pressed charges, i would

[Cwmbran]

I hope Cole gets banned tbh, hes a horrible person.
They dont make footballers like Giggs, Scholes or Nevilles anymore.

[AgnesIO]

He could have killed the bloke.

Surely Chelsea should be done for perverting the course of justice - since they didn't want the police or anyone to know.

Cole should be banged up too.

But lets be honest, he will probably be asked to not do it again.

---------- Post added 27-02-2011 at 02:04 PM ----------

I hope Cole gets banned tbh, hes a horrible person.
They dont make footballers like Giggs, Scholes or Nevilles anymore.

Don't forget Beckham.

Notice the thing in common though. I hate the bloke, but Ferguson does a fantastic job in turning his players in to gentleman.

[Cwmbran]

Don't forget Beckham.

Notice the thing in common though. I hate the bloke, but Ferguson does a fantastic job in turning his players in to gentleman.

Beckham slipped my mind completly
It amazes me why coaches let this sort of behaviour slide. I'm sure if it happened with a United player Fergie would leave him out the squad for a couple of games at least. I'm willing to bet if Cole isn't band he will be playing the next game.

[Matthew]

Beckham slipped my mind completly
It amazes me why coaches let this sort of behaviour slide. I'm sure if it happened with a United player Fergie would leave him out the squad for a couple of games at least. I'm willing to bet if Cole isn't band he will be playing the next game.

The next game is man u, so he will be playing unless he is banned

[AgnesIO]

Surely he should end up in jail, not be banned?

[Conservative,]

He should be permanently banned from football and locked up

[Sloopy]

To be honest i think Cheryl Cole done the right thing and dumped or broke up with him otherwise she would of known what was coming like this situation for example, although this has nothing to do with this subject but then again i'm just saying, However how can you 'accidentally' shoot a student obviously he could see it coming and it's not like you can let go of the gun and just simply accidentally hit a student with one shot. This is one of the most bizarrest stories that i have ever read.

[T@R]

I hope Cole gets banned tbh, hes a horrible person.
They dont make footballers like Giggs, Scholes or Nevilles anymore.

Gary Neville? Really?
I doubt he'll get banned because it's a non footballing incident, however if the lad presses charges he could always end up behind bars.