Chelsea left back Ashley Cole is under investigation after an alleged shooting incident that left a job placement student with an air gun injury.
The player, who was voted the best left back in the world last year, is alleged to have discharged a loaded air gun at Tom Cowan, a sports science student from Newcastle at the Premiership club's training ground.
Cole says it was a complete misunderstanding, claiming that "I was training with the lads and mucking about with an air pistol I'd had around the house for years. I didn't think it was loaded.
"I thought I heard a Geordie accent behind me shouting 'What have you got that thing for, you're always shooting blanks'.
"I thought it was the ex so I pointed it behind me and fired, not knowing it was loaded.
"That's the god honest truth".
Enquiries are continuing.
