One time Chelsea forward and Romanian international, Adrian Mutu, has today announced he will challenge a ruling by Fifa that he must pay the blues a whopping £13.68m.
Chelsea decided to sue Mutu for the sum on the basis that his own actions led to the club losing money that they had invested, both in his wages and transfer fee. His failed drugs test in 2004 spelt the end of his career at The Bridge after a promising start.
Today Mutu had this to say; "This sanction is not right, because I don't think I have committed a crime that merits such an amount. It is an unjust and inhumane sentence. We are going to appeal."
While he was at best misguided and at worst downright stupid in taking illegal drugs and risking the wrath of his club, the £13.68m total which Chelsea wish to be paid is a staggering amount. Making the striker’s protestations not the least surprisingly.
However, if football clubs start following the example set by Chelsea then it can only lead to a cleaner and subsequently improved game. Rumours that the club are set to fine the player a further £5m for a clear infringement of their ‘strictly no freaky Enrique Iglesias type moles’ policy are as of yet unfounded.
Mutu, a £15.8m signing from Parma back in 2003, was one of the first new arrivals at the start of the Abramovich era. An initial hit with fans before a series of indifferent performances, Mutu was eventually sacked by Chelsea after testing positive for cocaine.