SOCCER DIGEST:ADRIAN MUTU can finally count the true cost of his positive drug test at Chelsea after Fifa ordered him to pay €17.5 million in damages to his former club. It is the biggest fine ever handed down to a player.
The governing body calculated the compensation according to the value of the remaining period on a contract that was cancelled by Chelsea in October 2004, after he tested positive for cocaine.
Mutu, now 29, is almost certain to appeal.
The first legal wrangle had taken Mutu and Chelsea to the Premier League and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which both ruled for the club to sack him. Chelsea then applied under Fifa's laws for compensation after dismissing Mutu for "sporting just cause".
But their lawyers perversely decided in October 2006 that the Disputes Resolution Chamber (DRC) they had set up to consider such cases could not take on this one, saying it was a contractual matter between two independent parties.
"This is an important decision for football," last night's Chelsea statement read. "Not only did the DRC make us a very significant monetary award, the decision also recognised the damaging effect incidents involving drugs have on football. Chelsea is delighted."
Guardian Service
Silva to stay at Valencia
VALENCIA midfielder David Silva spoke of his delight after agreeing a new deal with Valencia.
Silva had been linked with a move this summer but the 22-year-old has committed himself to the Primera Liga club by agreeing new terms to his contract, which runs until 2013.
"I'm very happy here. The people treat me very well. My first option was to continue with Valencia," Silva said yesterday.
Portsmouth and the agent Willie McKay have been charged by the English Football Association with breaches of rules in relation to the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari to and from the club. Under the English FA's football agents regulations, agents are prohibited from acting for two clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player, something McKay is alleged to have done when Benjani joined Portsmouth and later moved to Manchester City.
It is alleged McKay acted on behalf of Auxerre when Benjani left to join Portsmouth in 2006, then acted for Portsmouth when he left Fratton Park in January this year.
Gareth Southgate is hoping to persuade Justin Hoyte to become a Middlesbrough player today after the club agreed a fee, thought to be around €4 million, with Arsenal for the right-back yesterday.
Blackburn have turned down a bid from Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz.
Keane tips Chelsea this year
ROY KEANE has tipped Chelsea to win the Premier League title next May. "For me, it's Chelsea this year," insisted the former Manchester United captain and current Sunderland manager, whose opinion is unlikely to impress Alex Ferguson.
"I always felt that United would do it last year," said Keane. "But I fancy Chelsea this time. There's no African Cup of Nations in January, they've got a new manager, they've bought one or two players and, for all the ups and downs, last year they still nearly nicked it."
His confidence in the London club could, however, be diluted slightly if Dimitar Berbatov completes his anticipated transfer to Old Trafford from Tottenham Hotspur.
"If United get a top striker in then they've got a chance," conceded Keane. "But my gut feeling this year would still be Chelsea."
He has not entirely eliminated Liverpool from the title equation, though. Rafael Benitez' team visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow and Keane will be mindful of the danger posed by Robbie Keane.
"Robbie and (Fernando) Torres will be a real handful playing together," said Keane. "I think Liverpool will go close this season."
Foreigners 60% of Premier League
FOREIGNERS MAKE up more than 40 per cent of the players in Europe's top five leagues with the figure for England's Premier League almost 60 per cent, according to a new study.
The annual Review of the European Football Players' Labour Market, found the number of foreigners in the top divisions in England, Germany, Spain, France and Italy last season had reached 42.4 per cent.
This marked a 3.5 per cent increase on season 2006-07.
The Premier League again proved the most attractive draw for foreigners, who made up 59.5 per cent of the total.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter, whose organisation backed the review, said in a statement the findings highlighted "the need to have solidarity and maintain a balance in football".
Blatter wants to introduce a so-called "six plus five" quota system that would mean teams starting matches with a maximum of five foreigners.
