When Chelsea sacked Adrian Mutu back in 2004, it seemed a bold and unprecedented decision.
What other club would be prepared – or able – to dismiss a player because of entirely unacceptable behaviour? There are countless incidences of footballers, who live constantly in the media spotlight and are role models to thousands of young people, behaving badly and yet receiving no condemnation from their clubs. Joey Barton springs to mind.
Back in 2004 however, Mutu supposedly refused his club’s offer of support to help him rid his life from drugs and, as a consequence, he was told to leave the club because of breach of contract. He was also given a worldwide seven month ban from the game from football. Chelsea were prepared to stick by their values and write off the £15m they had paid for his services – an admirable stance that deserves some credit.
Today however, it was announced that they will get at least some of that money back when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled against Mutu’s appeal over the compensation package FIFA had judged he owed Chelsea. The Romanian now owes Chelsea just over £14m – a nice little nest egg to add to the transfer kitty.
Does anyone think we'll actually see any of this money? He can't have £14M sitting in the bank surely?
Posted by: CFC_KD | 31 July 2009 at 17:29
Maybe he can pay in installments...
Posted by: Russell Saunders | 31 July 2009 at 18:49