Former Pompey player forced to pay £6.8m

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed down the 10million euro punishment after hearing the case of the 31-year-old, who quit the Russian side in 2014 after just a year having suffered a salary cut.

France international Diarra has already served a 15-month ban and salary suspension for the offence and signed for Marseille last summer.

His form at the Stade Vélodrome this season allowed him to make Didier Deschamps’ squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Diarra was signed for Pompey by Harry Redknapp in January 2008.

He arrived from Arsenal in a deal worth £5.5m and helped the Blues win the FA Cup that season.

He made 22 appearances for Pompey, before joining Real Madrid for £20m in December 2008.

‘I take note today of notification from CAS of the punishment concerning me,’ the midfielder wrote on Twitter.

‘It boils down to 15 months match suspension (already served), 15 months salary suspension (already served), 110,000 euros for the benefit of CAS, 10 million euro fine.

‘I will accept the situation as I have always done in the past.

‘I thank those who supported me during this difficult time and as I said it’s something I wouldn’t wish on any other player.’

After leaving Pompey, Diarra made 87 appearances for Real Madrid.

He joined Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee in August 2012, playing just 18 games.

One year later, Diarra moved to Lokomotiv Moscow, playing 13 times before the breakdown in their relationship.

He returned to France with Marseille on a free transfer last July.

This season Diarra was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season.