LONDON (AFP) - Disgraced Romanian international striker Adrian Mutu lodged an appeal against his sacking by Premiership leaders Chelsea for taking cocaine.
The 25-year-old was sacked for gross misconduct after receiving a seven month suspension from the Football Association (FA) for testing positive for cocaine, as the club had done when Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich also tested positive for the same substance.
"Adrian Mutu`s legal representatives have launched an appeal against his sacking by Chelsea," a spokesman for the Premier League confirmed to the Press Association.
"The Premier League will be considering it and then will decide on what course of action to take from there."
Chelsea had in their statement on sacking him hinted at seeing what financial compensation they could get as they had paid out 15.8 million pounds signing from Serie A side Parma in 2003.
"Chelsea will consider all options in relation to any financial loss as a result of this case," the statement read.
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 Football Association.
Mutu has been able to train with one of his former sides Dinamo Bucharest as FIFA slapped him just with a worldwide playing ban and is believed to be a target of Serie A leaders Juventus once his ban ends in May next year.
11/17/2004 - 17:46 GMT - AFP