Cole was brought down by Dejan Stefanovic and Frank Lampard, who making a record-breaking 160th consecutive Premiership appearance, scored from the spot to ensure Chelsea moved 10 points clear of their nearest rivals at the top of the league.

But Cole insists the accusations are untrue and explained the game is played at such a speed these days that even the merest touch from a defender can send a player flying.

“There are some players in this country who are divers but I’m not one of them,” insisted Cole.

“I would never dive. It was definitely a penalty. I wasn’t trying to get anyone booked or sent off but they were fouling me so many times that sooner or later the ref was going to make a decision.

“It was frustrating for me to be accused of diving because we’ve not had many dribbling players in this country for a few years.

“Sometimes you run at such high speed that if you get clipped you go flying. It can look like a dive but that’s misleading because it’s never intentional.

“Stefanovic definitely clipped me after we had scored the first goal but I didn’t know if the referee would realise that.”

Cole thought he was heading for a suspension instead of earning his side a penalty when the whistle first went.

“I thought he was coming over to book me so I made a gesture to say I hadn’t dived,” explained Cole.

“I wasn’t saying it wasn’t a foul. I was already on four bookings and another one would mean a suspension.

“The one thing I have shown is that I cannot be kicked out of a game. I’ve never been the sort of player to pull out of a challenge. That’s why I’ve already had four yellow cards this season. I do like a tackle.

“I enjoy the physical side of the game and, if you can’t cope with that, then you wouldn’t be able to survive in the Premiership.”

Meanwhile Barcelona’s Brazilian star Ronaldinho has paid a glowing tribute to Lampard and his Liverpool counterpart Steven Gerrard after he eclipsed the pair to be named 2005 European footballer of the year.

After collecting the Ballon D’Or award, the Brazilian claimed the players who finished behind him had true quality.

“God gives gifts to everyone,” he said. “Some can write, some can dance. He gave me the skill to play football and I am making the most of it.

“It is a dream come true. When I see all the names on the list, when I see my idols Ronaldo and Rivaldo, I realise this is a great honour.

“Lampard and Gerrard are great players, they deserve to be rewarded in this way and it is a pleasure for me to see them play in The Premiership. It is great to see such talented footballers at a young age.”

Lampard’s second place is a record for the club as no-one from Chelsea had made the top three before although Ruud Gullit and George Weah were both named Europe’s number one player at earlier stages in their careers.

Seven Chelsea players were nominated in the top 50 – and four of those made the top 20. Skipper John Terry was equal 10th, Claude Makelele 13th with Petr Cech and Didier Drogba joint 14th. The remaining Chelsea representation in the 50-man shortlist were Michael Essien and Arjen Robben.

The prestigious and long-established honour, which is organised by the magazine France Football, was established in 1956 with Stanley Matthews the first winner. The ranking is decided by a panel of European journalists.