An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is very likely.

These proceedings were commenced because these newspapers published false and offensive articles designed to tell readers that Ashley had behaved in what the News of the World described as a 'perverted' way with other professional footballers. The newspapers knew there was no basis to name Ashley but arranged the articles and pictures in such a way that readers would identify him.

These proceedings will be vigorously and actively pursued.

The normal course is to exhaust the appropriate forums and those in these circumstances would be appeals to the Premier League and thereafter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The newspapers knew there was no basis to name Ashley but arranged the articles and pictures in such a way that readers would identify him. There is no truth whatever in these allegations. Ashley Cole will not tolerate this kind of cowardly journalism or let it go unchallenged.

There is no truth whatever in these allegations.

There is no truth whatever in these allegations. Ashley Cole will not tolerate this kind of cowardly journalism or let it go unchallenged. It is disgraceful that he should be faced with this kind of unpleasant insinuation and innuendo.

This (decision) sends entirely the wrong message. English football have lost the message that a footballer is an employee, it is more like the master and servant of centuries ago,

Ashley is absolutely adamant that he will be proceeding with an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as he remains entirely dissatisfied with the result.

To the Cubans, and by Cubans I mean the man on the street, this is like the Elgin marbles.