Cole, Ferdinand in `tense` stand-off outside LA nightclub

London: Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole and Queens Park Rangers (QPR) defender Anton Ferdinand had reportedly come into a tense stand-off outside a nightclub in Los Angeles.

There has been a rift since Chelsea skipper John Terry was accused of calling Ferdinand, a "f***ing black ****" in a 2011 game, although Terry was cleared of race abuse in court after team-mate Cole, 32, backed his account. Ferdinand later snubbed a pre-match handshake with both of the players. The pair were separated by their friends with Cole`s England team-mate Andy Carroll appearing to put a protective arm across him to keep the men apart, while another man did the same to Ferdinand to stop a fight from breaking out. A source said that there was no row, no confrontation between the players, who just exchanged words with each other. ANI