Romania striker Adrian Mutu has been ordered by Fifa to pay €12 million to Chelsea for testing positive for cocaine in 2004, according to his lawyer.

Chelsea bought Mutu from Parma in 2003 for £15million and let him go in October 2004 after he tested positive for cocaine. He was suspended from all football for the next seven months.

The English Premier League also ruled that Mutu's misconduct was a unilateral breach of contract without just cause. In December 2005, an appeal filed by Mutu against the Premier League's decision was dismissed.

Fifa made the decision after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in May 2007 that the world football body would decide what fine Mutu should pay.

Chelsea had asked for £8million (€10 million) in compensation, a claim that was based on the transfer value of Mutu, but Fifa have now ruled Mutu must pay Chelsea €12million (£9.6million).

Appeal
Mutu's lawyer, Cristian Sarbu, said the player would contest the fine in a civil court. Sarbu added that the decision was not final and Mutu would not pay any compensation until all legal avenues had been exhausted.

"People should understand that this is a decision taken by a sporting tribunal," Sarbu said. "After this is final, this decision can be taken to a civil court."

Fifa have ordered Adrian Mutu to pay Chelsea a whopping £13.68million in compensation following his sacking in 2004.

The Blues paid £15.8million to Parma for Mutu in 2003, but just a year later he was sacked after failing a drugs test for Class A drug cocaine.

Mutu's lawyer, Cristian Sarbu, claimed earlier in the summer that his client was told to pay £9.6million by Fifa and that the Romania striker would be contesting the ruling.
Delighted

Chelsea were naturally delighted by the award and claim the decision benefits football on the whole as it sends the right message out to youngsters.

"Chelsea can confirm that it has received the decision from Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on the claim made against Adrian Mutu," read a statement on the club's official website.

"Chelsea is delighted with the DRC's decision to award the club £13.68 million in compensation.

"This is an important decision for football. Not only did the DRC make us a very significant monetary award, the decision also recognised the damaging effect incidents involving drugs has on football and the responsibilities we all have in this area."

Ridiculous. They purged/nullified/canceled/whatevered the contract, so there should be no contractual obligations left...

Adrian Mutu has vowed to appeal the 17.2million euros (£13.5million) fine he must pay to former club Chelsea.

The punishment was handed to the Romania international as a result of his failed drugs test in 2004 which led to the Blues parting company with the striker.

However, the Fiorentina hit-man claims the fine is 'unjust' and 'inhumane' and intends to fight to have the ruling overturned.

"This is an unjust and inhumane sentence. We are going to appeal," Mutu said as he prepares to represent his country in a friendly against Latvia on Wednesday.

"This sanction is not right, because I don't think I have committed a crime that merits such an amount," he said, adding that he would be speaking to his lawyers.
Banned

Fifa ordered Mutu to pay the hefty fine after he was found to have taken cocaine during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The 29-year-old was subsequently banned for seven months and released from his contract with the Blues.

Last week's decision to penalise the player saw football's governing body hand out their highest ever fine, with the ruling based on Chelsea's loss of earnings.

Worryingly for Mutu, the Premier League club have stated that they fully intend to recoup the full amount of which they are owed.

"This is an important decision for football," read a club statement.

"The decision also recognised the damaging effect incidents involving drugs has on football and the responsibilities we all have in this area."