Hiddink clears air with Cole

The club's interim coach also had stern words with club captain John Terry and Michael Mancienne, after all three broke club rules by being out in the early hours of the morning just days before a crucial cup tie. The trio were at the Collection nightclub in Brompton Road, Kensington, on Thursday morning - but Cole was the only one to be arrested by police.

"I spoke with Ashley in private," said Hiddink. "He explained the details of what happened. I am a disciplinarian, but every case is different. You have to judge what the circumstances were, and that's why I tackled him on his behaviour."

He added: "He said he was, in his opinion, harassed a little bit by the photographers and that is why he reacted. Afterwards, he regretted that.

"At that moment they are out of the rules which are set by the club to a certain extent before a game. I spoke firmly to him and the captain and Michael Mancienne.

"He has publicly apologised about his conduct and behaviour to the police officer, and it is a rather private matter.

"We have an internal discipline, and this is to be considered internal. I have spoken firmly with him about his responsibility.

"There are rules inside this club regarding going out and also discipline, so I had a firm talk with him and the rest of the group about this.

"What is normal and good in this is that he apologised for his abusive behaviour to the police officer."