Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson is demanding Fabio Capello leave Chelsea fullback Ashley Cole out of his squad for this week's friendly in France over his behaviour last week at Tottenham.

Sir Bobby told the Mail on Sunday: "I would be happy to see an England team line up against France without Ashley Cole. It would hammer home the message that what he did was unacceptable. Not being picked would be a huge blow for Cole and it would show him and everyone else that the manager is not allowing that sort of behaviour.

"Cole's tackle was atrocious - it was a red-card offence. But he made things worse by arguing with the referee. He then showed a complete lack of respect by turning his back on him. It was disgraceful."

Sir Bobby added: "England's rugby manager, Brian Ashton, left Danny Cipriani out of an international because he was in a nightclub. He wanted to make it clear what was acceptable and what wasn't.

"In my view, what Cole did was worse than go into a nightclub. It was extraordinarily bad behaviour. Can you imagine how bad it would look if kids saw him as part of a winning England team after what he has just done. It would send out the wrong message. He is a great player and I'm sure he will be given the chance later on to make amends for his mistakes. But we, as a football community, need to take action.

"When I heard a rugby referee say to a player the other day: 'Get up lad, you're not a footballer', I realised how low our reputation had sunk in certain quarters.

"Wednesday night should be about David Beckham, a boy who has done so much for his country and who deserves to be there alongside Billy Wright, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton. It should not be about Ashley Cole."