Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole said to have accidentally fired at Loughborough sports science intern at training ground
Police are to investigate reports that Ashley Cole accidentally shot and wounded a 21-year-old student with an air rifle at Chelsea football club's training ground.
A Surrey police spokesman confimed that the force would be in touch with the club after a report that the England international fired the weapon at the man at close range on Sunday last week at the training facility at Cobham.
"We can confirm that ... we will be contacting the club to establish whether any criminal offence has been committed," said a police spokesman, adding that officers would interview "whoever runs the training establishment at Cobham".
The club said it was taking "appropriate action" in light of the report, which appeared in the News of the World.
The Chelsea and former Arsenal left-back was said to have fired a high-powered air rifle at Tom Cowan, a Loughborough sports science student on a year's internship at the west London club.
The incident was reported to have taken place in the dressing room as Cole was "larking around" with the rifle some 24 hours after Chelsea's FA Cup fourth-round defeat by Everton.
An "insider" told the News of the World that Cowan screamed in agony and went into shock after being hit in the side by a pellet from the .22 calibre air rifle, which is the most powerful gun that can legally be owned in Britain without a licence.
Cowan was reportedly given treatment by the club's in-house medical team. Two days later, however, Cowan needed further treatment, it was claimed.
Cole reportedly brought the gun – which had a muzzle and nightscope – into the training ground hidden inside a box. He apparently did not realise the weapon was loaded.
Cowan's father, Ronald, was said to be "furious" about the incident. Chelsea bosses were said to have held a three-hour meeting with the Cowans last Wednesday.
Cole, who reportedly earns £110,000 a week – £5,720,000 a year – has played since the incident, in Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last Tuesday. Chelsea are due to play Manchester United on Tuesday.
It was claimed that sources close to Cole, 30, said the gun was not his and that the student had suffered "just a scratch and was not seriously hurt". The source insisted the incident had been "blown out of all proportion".
A Chelsea statement read: "We have fully investigated the incident and we are taking appropriate action. We will not be commenting further as it is an internal matter."
Last year, the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, hailed Cole – who is the former husband of the Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole – as the finest left-back in the world.
He said the defender was a role model for all aspiring footballers. He added: "He is highly motivated, a very good player and a very good professional. I think everyone who appreciates football should appreciate him because he is also a very fair player. He never shouts at referees or makes bad tackles on opponents. On the pitch he is an example."