FA OK with Mutu training ruling

The Football Association today insisted that they have never protested against FIFA’s decision to allow Adrian Mutu to train in Italy.

The FA had banned Mutu from all football-related activity for seven months in November after he tested positive for cocaine and asked FIFA to extend that worldwide.

However, FIFA decided the ban would only apply to matches – allowing the former Chelsea striker to train with Juventus in Italy.

There have been reports that the FA have lodged an official protest but an FA statement today read: “The FA has never protested against FIFA’s decision, nor has the FA ever requested FIFA to amend or extend the conditions of the worldwide ban. The application of worldwide bans is entirely a FIFA matter.”