Barnett banned after Cole case

Jonathan Barnett has been banned and fined due to the Ashley Cole tapping-up scandal.

Ashley Cole's representative Jonathan Barnett has had his agent's licence revoked for 18 months, nine of which are suspended, and fined £100,000 for his part in the tapping-up scandal involving Chelsea.

Cole, Chelsea and Blues boss Jose Mourinho were all punished last June for their respective roles in the scandal which erupted after they were caught holding an illicit meeting at a London hotel in January 2005.

The England international has since moved to Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal receiving William Gallas and £5 million in exchange, but the controversy continues to rumble on 20 months later.

An Independent Disciplinary Commission has found Barnett guilty of two charges of misconduct, regarding Premier League rule K5 and Fifa's Players' Agents Regulations, and as a result have levied the heavy fine and revoked his licence for nine months.

In explaining their judgement, the commission revealed they considered Barnett to be 'a prime mover' in setting up the controversial meeting, and that they were keen to issue a deterrence in light of the high-profile nature of the parties involved.

"Earlier today we found the Charges laid against Jonathan Barnett proved," read a statement on the FA website.

"Namely i) Misconduct under Rule E1(e) (the FAPL being a sanctioned Competition), in that he procured the breach of FAPL Rule K5 by Ashley Cole.

"ii) Misconduct under Rule E1(d) due to a breach of Paragraph IV of the Code of Professional Conduct to the FIFA Players' Agents Regulations (the Code is enforceable by virtue of Article 8.2 of the FIFA Players' Agents Regulations), In that he failed to respect the rights of a third party, specifically Arsenal FC.

"We have taken into account all the matters urged by David Pannick QC on Jonathan Barnett's behalf.

"There having been no acceptance by Mr Barnett of his guilt on these Charges, there is no scope for additional mitigation in that respect.

"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.

"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."

The FA also confirmed they were unable to act against super-agent Pini Zahavi, who was also present at the meeting, as the Israeli is not under their jurisdiction.