Ashley Cole’s agent, Jonathan Barnett has been fined £100,000 and suspended for 18 months by the Football Association, but he can still negotiate football boot deals!

The Football Association have ruled that Jonathan Barnett was guilty of misconduct by organising a meeting in January 2005, involving Chelsea officials Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon and Ashley Cole, who was in contract with Arsenal.

“We consider this a most serious case of its kind involving as it did a leading English international player contracted to one of England’s premier clubs, namely Arsenal FC, and also involving the chief executive and manager of another leading English premier club, namely Chelsea FC,” an FA statement said.

His agent’s licence was suspended for 18 months in total, half of which was suspended, and he was ordered to pay costs on top of the fine.

“We are wholly satisfied that there is need in this case for an element of deterrence in the sanction we are to impose. We are also wholly satisfied that Mr Barnett was a prime mover in the setting up of the meeting,” the FA statement added.

Barnett’s suspension effectively prohibits him from being involved in any transfer or re-negotiation of a contract for a player, but the Football Association have no jurisdiction over his involvement in the negotiation of commercial contracts such as football boot deals.

Comment on the Ashley Cole Saga