FIFA has ordered Romanian striker Adrian Mutu to pay Chelsea $36.3 million in damages for breach of contract after the Premier League football club terminated his contract in October 2004.
Mutu, who can appeal the judgment at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, had his contract ended a year after joining the club following a positive drugs test for cocaine.
Since leaving Chelsea, the 29-year-old Mutu has rebuilt his career, first at Juventus, who he signed for in 2005 despite serving a seven-month ban, and since 2006 at Fiorentina.
He also played for Romania in the recent Euro 2008 championship, scoring their only goal of the tournament in a 1-1 draw against world champions Italy.
