ENGLAND football star Joe Cole could face criminal proceedings after a violent brawl in Bolton Wanderers' crucial Premiership victory over West Ham United.

The Hammers' captain allegedly punched Wanderers' defender Bernard Mendy as he left the pitch on Saturday.

Police have reported the England midfielder to the FA and have refused to rule out further action following more reports of a "number of incidents" in the tunnel after the game.

In one, 21-year-old Cole was seen allegedly "kicking out and damaging the tunnel awning", a police spokesman said.

Television cameras captured Cole walking off the pitch with a look of fury after the final whistle. A police officer then followed him down the tunnel.

West Ham's Rufus Brevitt may also face an investigation after an alleged "altercation" with a police officer who was bundled to the floor on the touchline.

Both Brevitt and Cole have now been reported by the police to the FA, who may take further action.

Wanderers are refusing to comment until they have studied the police report.

However, the club said that a story in a Sunday newspaper that Andrew Dean, the club's promotions manager, had his shirt ripped in a post-match incident was untrue.

Supt Alan Greene, of Bolton Police, who was in charge of police operations at the match said afterwards: "I will be forwarding a report to the FA about the behaviour of some of the West Ham players and I will await their response."

Today police said they were "making inquiries to establish the true facts".

A spokesman said they could not rule out the possibility that further action could be taken against the players.

The game -- which the Whites won 1-0 thanks to a stunning Jay-Jay Okocha strike -- was also marred by two mass brawls on the pitch.

In one of them, linesman Nigel Miller received an eye injury when he was caught by a flailing arm. After being seen by the Wanderers' doctor, he was taken to hospital for treatment. Mr Miller has said the incident was accidental and no further action will be taken.

The match was a crucial relegation game between the two teams as they battled for their Premiership lives.

Bolton's victory meant that, before today's games, West Ham trailed them by six points.