Chelsea to take action on Ashley Cole for shooting incident

Chelsea will take appropriate action on Ashley Cole after he accidently shot an intern at Chelsea's training ground Cobham.

According to a report in the News of the World, Cole wounded 21-year-old Tom Cowan, an intern at the club, when larking around with a .22 air rifle. Chelsea initally refused to comment on the incident, insisting they never comment on internal matters. However, intense media speculation forced them to come out and clairfy their stance, and the club said in a statement, We have fully investigated the incident and we are taking appropriate action. We will not be commenting further as it is an internal matter.''

A Surrey police spokesman said they would be contacting the club about the incident saying, We can confirm that while no direct allegation has been made to Surrey police, the matter has been brought to our attention through reports in the media, and we will be contacting the club in due course to establish whether any criminal offence has been committed.''

The incident happened last Sunday at Chelsea's training ground when Cole took the gun from a box, not realising it was loaded, and accidentally fired at Tom Cowan, 21, from just five feet away.

The News of the World source said, It's truly inconceivable that a Premier League footballer could bring a gun to the training ground.

But Ashley pulled the rifle from a box and started larking about with it in the changing room, not realising it was loaded. It ended up pointed at Tom just five feet away.

The gun went off with a loud pop and Tom screamed as this lead pellet hit him in the side. It went through his clothing and into his flesh.

Cowan immediately received treatment from Chelsea's medical staff. However, the wound was, reportedly, still weeping two days later.

On Wednesday, Cowan was called into a three-hour meeting with deeply worried Chelsea officials to discuss the matter. A day later, Tom's father Ronald Cowan held another meeting with the club where he was intent on taking an action against Cole.

Cole is reported to have been handed a severe dressing down, and has formally apologised to Cowan.

The source added that the police were not notified as Chelsea officials were concerned that it would be a PR disaster if this became public knowledge, so the club has closed ranks over it.