Juventus, Livorno appeal $29M Mutu damages case

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) Italian clubs Juventus and Livorno have challenged a FIFA ruling ordering them to help Adrian Mutu pay more than 21.5 million euros ($29 million) compensation to Chelsea.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday it registered separate appeals from Juventus and Livorno. No hearing dates have been set.

The Mutu case, sparked by Chelsea firing the Romania forward after his positive test for cocaine in 2004, will arrive at CAS for the fourth time.

In 2009, a third CAS panel ordered Mutu to pay Chelsea more than 17 million euros (then $24 million) damages. The sum has increased with interest.

During that appeal against the initial compensation order by FIFA, Mutu was supported by FIFPro, the international players' union, which argued that Juventus should be jointly liable to pay any compensation award.

Mutu joined Juventus as a free agent in 2005, while he was serving a seven-month ban in England. The Turin club placed him with Livorno to get around non-European Union player limits.

Juventus then earned 8 million euros one year later by selling Mutu to Serie A rival Fiorentina.

This month, FIFA confirmed that its dispute panel had issued a further ruling which made the Italian clubs jointly responsible with Mutu for the money due to Chelsea.

Now 34, Mutu plays for French club Ajaccio.