Mutu will accept punishment

Adrian Mutu is set to accept punishment from England's Football Association without appeal – but is preparing legal action after allegations exaggerating extent of his drug abuse.

The 25-year-old, sacked by Chelsea on Friday for failing a drug test, admits to taking a prohibited substance but has been upset after a number of “fictitious and highly damaging stories”.

The striker, signed by the west London club in 2003 from Parma, claimed to be suffering from personal difficulties when he took the substance.

A statement from Mutu’s solicitors given to the Press Association read: “Suggestions in the press that he had taken this substance just before playing football or that he played with it in his system are completely untrue.

“So too are the reports of his criticism of Chelsea or those stating he wants to leave football.”