By dixon9
June 6 2008
Former Chelsea striker, Adrian Mutu received a FIFA guilty verdict of a unilateral breach of contract without just cause and ordered to pay 12 million (10 million quid) to Chelsea for testing positive for cocaine in 2004 whilst at Stamford Bridge.
The ruling almost brings to an end a painful and sad chapter for a player who promised so much since his arrival from Parma and had begun to carve a special niche for himself in the hearts of Chelsea supporters. I say “almost” because the FIFA ruling doesn’t prevent Mutu from contesting the fine in a civil court – which I imagine he will do given the amount of the fine.
Chelsea paid Parma £15million in 2003 for Mutu´s transfer but then made the headline grabbing dismissal in October 2004.
Apparently, Chelsea staff and coaches had suspected his cocaine habit and when confronted, Mutu denied taking the drug. Unfortunately, the warning signs for Mutu weren’t strong enough and he continued to indulge and show signs of having taken cocaine during training sessions – enough was enough and Chelsea carried out their own test on the player which proved positive.
This all took place not long after Abramovich bought Chelsea and with so much resentment around, instead of being applauded for the decision for taking a tough stance on drug abuse and setting an example to kids around the country, the club were subject to criticism (the “anti-Chelsea at all costs” bandwagon had begun).
Mutu was immediately banned for the next seven months and later had an appeal against the Premier League's decision dismissed. Chelsea originally sought £8million in compensation but have been awarded £9.6million) by FIFA.
This amount, along with a further potential £16 million from Lyn Oslo and Manchester United for the Mikel Obi debacle after the Norwegian club forged the players contract to expedite his transfer, could add up to a pretty penny indeed! (We were again, the devil’s spawn of football at that time – since that verdict most of the media and oppo fans have gone strangely quiet!).
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.
Quote:TheN5er
to be fair there wasn't much else Chelsea could do after the way they had treated Bosnich.. but fair play to Chelsea in this instance.. don't want to get into the morality of it all as Arsenal stood by Merson (and Adams) but particularly in the case of the Merse, cleaned him up apparently and then sold him on at a huge profit.. whilst CFCs past isn't unblemished the way they took Rix back after his jail sentence for an unpalatable crime..