Romania striker Adrian Mutu has been ordered by Fifa to pay £9.6 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, now at Fiorentina, should pay.
Chelsea had asked for £8million in compensation, a claim that was based on the transfer value of Mutu, but Fifa have now ruled Mutu must pay Chelsea £9.6million.
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."
