Mutu appeals Blues sacking after dope shame

THE Premier League have confirmed an appeal has been lodged by Adrian Mutu against his sacking by Chelsea for a positive drugs test.

The Romanian striker was suspended for seven months by the FA after having his contract terminated by the west London club for gross misconduct after he admitted using cocaine.

FIFA agreed to extend the FA’s ban worldwide, but only on playing matches, which has meant Mutu can train with former side Dinamo Bucharest and could be ready to return to play for a club as soon as his ban expires in May.

There have been suggestions Juventus may be interested in signing the former Parma star, while other English clubs are also said to be keeping tabs on the situation, hoping to pick up the 25-year-old on what would be effectively a free transfer.

A spokesman for the Premier League confirmed: “Adrian Mutu’s legal representatives have launched an appeal against his sacking by Chelsea.

“The Premier League will be considering it and will decide on what course of action to take from there.”

Chelsea stated at the time of Mutu’s sacking they were “considering all options in relation to any financial loss as a result of this case”.

Those are understood to include whether to try to secure compensation for their own loss in transfer value from Mutu’s departure and also requesting for the striker’s registration to be withheld by the FA.

Earlier, the FA lodged a written complaint with UEFA over racist abuse aimed at England Under-21 players during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat in Spain.

Strikers Carlton Cole and Darren Bent and Glen Johnson were subjected to monkey chants during the game.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson spoke to his Spanish counterpart ahead of the senior game over his concerns.

“We will write to UEFA and FIFA to make them aware of the jeering,” said the FA’s head of media Adrian Bevington.

“We would, of course, hope that this does not occur again this evening,” added Bevington.

FIFA confirmed the FA had been in touch but it had not yet received an official complaint in writing.

“The FA press office has told us that they are likely to be sending a letter to FIFA but we can’t comment until we have received it,” spokesman Andreas Herren said.

“When it arrives it will be dealt with in the usual way.”

U-21 manager Peter Taylor earlier said: “I thought I heard something in the first half - it was disappointing.

“It happened when Carlton was running through towards the Spanish goal.”

Herren said: “The last thing brought to our attention was the Aragones incident a few weeks ago but we received no formal correspondence about it.”

Spain coach Luis Aragones was criticised when he made racist comments about Thierry Henry during a training session with the France striker’s Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio Reyes.

Herren added: “It’s being debated in the public eye, which is a good thing because it makes people aware it’s wrong. Strong media debate means there’s a sort of self-regulatory effect.”

England players wore ‘Kick Racism Out of Football’ T-shirts ahead of last night’s senior international with the Spanish in Madrid.