'I'm angry' – Agent Saif Rubie opens up on legal case against ex-Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia

30/04/2024 13:40

Agent Saif Rubie says he is still ‘angry’ after being cleared of sending a threatening email to ex-Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.

Rubie was charged with a single count of sending an electronic communication with the intent to cause distress on May 22, 2022.

The alleged email was in relation to a £300,000 payment he believed he was owed as part of Kurt Zouma's £29.1million move from Chelsea to West Ham in August 2021.

Granovskaia explained during her testimony that she felt 'physically threatened' by the email, while Rubie insisted he only ever implied a legal threat, not a physical one.

Rubie denied the allegations and has now been found not guilty of the charges by a jury at Southwark Crown Court.

Speaking on White and Jordan, Rubie said: “To be honest, I'm angry that it had to go this far.

"Obviously I'm relieved that 12 out of 12 on the jury found me not guilty of the allegations and it's obviously just disappointing that allegations based on a load of lies were allowed to get this far but thank god that the justice system worked on this occasion and that the truth came out.

"It's been two years of my life where I've not been able to work properly and where I've had to suffer professionally, financially, mentally and emotionally.

"No doubt a lot of people who are maybe against agents were probably hoping that things would go the other way for me but the reality is that when you tell the truth, the truth always prevails and God is great for that. I'm grateful and thankful.

"It was a nightmare and I'm still living with this nightmare and hopefully once I take care of all the outstanding issues going forward I can get on with my life."

Asked if he's still seeking the £300,000, Rubie said: "I don't know if you actually saw the trial but the commission, I was due is around 10 times that amount.

"The £300,000 was actually an amount that I was willing to accept when I didn't know all of the facts and the truth of the transfer fee was hidden away from me.

"I obviously didn't know then what I could go after, so it's a lot more than £300,000. All of the people involved know that and obviously all of that side of things is in the hands of my lawyers and I won't be dragged in to tit-for-tat and things like that.

"The judge in the trial established all of the facts, thank God. The Law of the land is above any law and I'm just glad that that has vindicated everything that I've had to go through and the facts were black and white.”

White then asked again if he’ll be going for the millions due, to which Rubie said: “Like I said, my lawyers will be dealing with that plus the interest, plus the rest. At the end of the day, thank God that the jury – I think it was 12 out of 12, so a bit like England playing against San Marino."

In her own statement after the trial, Granovskaia said: “Coming to court to give evidence in the Crown's case against Mr. Alrubie was an extremely difficult decision.

“I am an intensely private person, but I was willing to do my part to ensure that no one else – particularly no woman – was ever made to feel as I did upon receiving his e-mail, a feeling this trial has revived.

“I was also minded to testify as I received messages of support from colleagues and associates in football following news of Mr. Alrubie's arrest, including some who have had dealings with him over the years.

“There are things I miss about football: my colleagues and counterparts, including some wonderful and decent agents; the players; the spirit of Chelsea; and, of course, winning trophies. One thing I do not miss is the difficult and ugly side of football.

“I will not be making any further comment.”

Granovskaia left Chelsea in the summer of 2022 following the takeover of Todd Boehly.