Chelsea Cleared To Seek Mutu Compensation

A Premier League tribunal ruled that the Romanian international did breach his contract by testing positive for cocaine in a random drugs test last November and the Blues are entitled to pursue a compensation claim through world governing body FIFA.

The west Londoners, who paid £15.8 million for the player from Parma, want to recoup as much as £8m in damages from the striker, although it is understood that if FIFA order any payout it will come from his new club Juventus.

The Barclays Premiership leaders claimed that Mutu's actions forced them to write off £13million in lost transfer value and wages.

He was dismissed by the club last October for gross misconduct after the positive test. Following a Football Association hearing in November, he was fined £20,000 and suspended from all football for seven months - a ban which is due to expire on May 18.

Chelsea were anxious to block Mutu signing for another club on a free transfer at the end of his suspension, but he signed for Juve in February and has been training for them since.

A Premier League statement confirmed: "The appeals committee concluded that the conduct of the player in taking banned drugs was gross misconduct which entitled the club to treat the players contract as at an end and amounted to a unilateral breach without just cause or sporting just cause.

"The club is therefore entitled to proceed to seek compensation and sporting sanctions from the dispute resolution chamber (DRC) of FIFA."

The Stamford Bridge outfit will now instruct their lawyers to prepare a case to be heard by FIFA.