Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole was arrested early on Thursday morning on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, a police source said.
Cole was stopped by police on Brompton Road, in an upmarket area of London, at 2:15 a.m.
He was taken to a central London police station where he was given an 80-pound fixed penalty notice.
"A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly," a police spokesman said without naming Cole.
No further action will be taken, he said.
Cole, 28, played for Arsenal before an acrimonious move to Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2006.
He is married to Cheryl Cole, the Girls Aloud singer and judge on the TV talent show X Factor.
The Daily Mail website said Cole was arrested after he refused to tone down a foul-mouthed rant at police officers.
