England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole was attacked at a party hosted by Page Three model Keeley Hazell, according to reports. The 23-year-old footballer fled the house shoeless and shirtless after the assault, which left him bloodied and bruised.
The incident occurred early on Sunday morning following Chelsea's 2-1 FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town. Cole, along with teammates John Terry and Bobby Zamora, and West Ham's Anton Ferdinand, had attended a club in the West End before continuing the party at Miss Hazell's home in Grove Park, south-east London.
Witnesses said Cole had been 'getting close' to the 19-year-old model when a jealous male guest attacked him. One guest told a newspaper: 'Joe and Keeley were getting on well but another admirer went ballistic and had Joe for breakfast.' The attack was so severe that Cole fled through a window, leaving behind his shoes, shirt, mobile phone and wallet.
A spokesman for Cole insisted the player had no relationship with Miss Hazell and remains committed to his long-term girlfriend. The spokesman said: 'Joe went back to a party at Keeley's house with a large group of people. He was assaulted by another man. He left the party and got a taxi home. He did not receive medical treatment.'
Cole then ran to a nearby minicab office, where drivers initially failed to recognise him due to his dishevelled state. An employee at Far and Near Minicabs said: 'No one recognised him at first. He looked more like a yobbo.'
