FA charge Ashley Cole over offensive Twitter rant

Ashley Cole has been charged by the Football Association after abusing the governing body on Twitter.

The Chelsea and England defender called the FA a “bunch of t***s” after he was accused of “evolving” his statement supporting John Terry’s defence against the charge that he racially abused Anton Ferdinand.

He released a statement apologising for the tweet but the FA has confirmed Cole has been charged with using language that was “improper and/or brought the game into disrepute”.

Cole is set to be left out of the England side to face San Marino on Friday as further punishment for the tweet.

Roy Hodgson is ready to play Leighton Baines rather than the Chelsea left-back at Wembley in the World Cup qualifier which would have been Cole’s 99th cap.

The defender has until 4pm on Thursday, October 11 to respond to the FA charge.