Juventus
have won an appeal which means they will not have to pay compensation for
former striker Adrian Mutu after his departure from Chelsea.
Governing body FIFA ruled in 2013 that Juventus and Livorno had to
contribute some of the £14million owed by Mutu to Chelsea for a breach of
contract.
The London club released Mutu in 2004 following the Romanian striker's
positive drug test and sought compensation, which they were granted by FIFA
in 2013 after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Mutu joined Juve after being let go by the Blues, with Livorno also involved
in the transfer, and both Italian clubs immediately appealed the FIFA
ruling, which has been upheld, according to the Turin giants.
A statement from Juventus on Wednesday read: "Juventus Fooball Club
announces today that the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne has
notified us of the decision made by the arbitrators in the dispute that
pitted Chelsea against Juventus regarding the signing of Adrian Mutu.
"The arbitrators have completely dismissed the demands made by Chelsea FC,
ordering them (the London club) to pay the legal costs of the case.
"This ruling has no effect on the financial balance of Juventus Football
Club because the club, fully aware of being in the right, chose not to allow
for any risk in funds over the developing litigation."
Mutu signed for Juventus in January 2005, but could not immediately join the
Italian giants because they had their full quota of non-EU players.
Instead, Serie A club Livorno reached an agreement with Juve to sign the
Romanian on a free transfer until Juve could offload one of their
non-European players.
Mutu never played for Livorno and made his first appearance for Juve in May
of 2005 having served a seven-month ban from football.
He played at Juve until July 2006 when he was sold to Fiorentina for eight
million euros.
Mutu, now 36, lost all of his appeals in a legal battle with Chelsea which
has lasted more than 10 years.
The former Parma star announced his retirement from football earlier this
month having played last season with Romanian club Petrolul Ploiesti.
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