LONDON — Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has apologized to English Football Association chairman David Bernstein for a Twitter insult he aimed at the FA last week and is free to play for England against San Marino Friday. Whether or not he earns his 99th cap in the World Cup qualifier at Wembley is up to coach Roy Hodgson but Bernstein said Tuesday that Cole was free for selection. The FA charged the 31-year-old with misconduct Monday following Cole's offensive tweet after the governing body's independent commission had queried what they described as his “evolving” evidence in the John Terry racial abuse verdict. Terry was found guilty of racially insulting Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand and banned for four matches. Cole gave evidence on his Chelsea teammate's behalf. Cole deleted the tweet a few hours after it was posted Friday. Bernstein, speaking to BBC radio before the official opening of England's new national coaching center at St. George's Park in Burton, revealed that Cole had followed his apology to the FA Friday with a personal apology to the chairman. “He apologized immediately Friday and he came to see me last night and apologized to me personally,” Bernstein said. Cole has until 1500 GMT Thursday to respond to the FA charge, that deadline falling just over 24 hours before the England match. — Reuters
