Romania striker Adrian Mutu was ordered by FIFA to pay £9.4million to Chelsea for testing positive for cocaine in 2004.
Mutu’s lawyer, Cristian Sarbu, said that the player would appeal against the fine in civil court.
“People should understand that this is a decision taken by a sporting tribunal,” Sarbu said. “After this is final, this decision can be taken to a civil court.”
FIFA did not immediately confirm the decision, and Romanian Football Federation spokesman Paul Zaharia refused to comment.
Zaharia said Mutu was training in the Swiss mountains with the team ahead of its opening European Championship match against France on Monday.
Chelsea had asked for £8.1million in compensation, a claim that was based on the transfer value of Mutu.
Chelsea bought Mutu from Parma in 2003 for £20million and released him in October 2004 after he tested positive for cocaine. He was suspended from all football for the next seven months.
