Police investigate battery claim against Chelsea's Ashley Cole

Posted Monday, June 09, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

DETECTIVES are investigating a complaint of criminal battery against Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole in Los Angeles, police have confirmed.

STAR: Chelsea defender and former England left-back Ashley Cole

The Premier League star allegedly threw champagne over British TV presenter Donatella Panayiotou during a night out at Hollywood nightclub Lure, the Sunday Mirror reported.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed they had received a battery complaint against Cole.

She said: "A battery report has been assigned to detectives from the Hollywood division."

Police have 30 days to investigate the complaint, which they received on May 31, before deciding whether to press charges, the spokeswoman said.

Cole, 33, was with a group of friends including former team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips when the alleged incident happened, the Sunday Mirror reported.

A spokesman for Chelsea said it was a "private matter" and declined to comment.

Cole, who has 107 England caps, announced he was retiring from international football last month after he was left out of Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad.

The left back's contract with Chelsea is reportedly due to expire this summer.