04 March 2006

Cole fights back against Murdoch's 'cowardly' journalism


I am pleased to see that Ashley Cole and his lawyer are attacking the "cowardly journalism" at The Sun and The News of the World. Too often the the tabloid newspapers in the UK get away with insinuation and innuendos through the layout of the page. Ashley Cole may never have been named in any of the articles but it was obvious what they were trying to infer and this wasn't the first time they have used this journalistic "device". Reputations can be shattered and newspapers who rely on whispers and rumours to create stories may be a little more careful in future.

Here is the statement from Cole's solicitor Graham Shear:

"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. 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 at a time when he is trying to focus on this summer's World Cup and his forthcoming wedding. These proceedings will be vigourously and actively pursued."

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