- A threatening email from a football agent Saif Rubie to former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia left her shaken
- Granovskaia told a London court that she increased her security detail
- Rubie met with one of Granovskaia’s security personnel in Dubai
A threatening email from a football agent Saif Rubie to former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia left her shaken.
Granovskaia told a London court on Tuesday that she immediately added her security following the email.
It was revealed that Rubie met with one of Granovskaia’s security personnel in Dubai after Rubie’s email to Granovskaia. She said that she never initiated such a meeting.
Rubie is charged with violating the Malicious Communications Act by e-mailing Granovskaia with threatening content although he denies the charges.
Why Did Saif Rubie Send Marina Granovskaia a Threatening Email?
Rubie was demanding money from Chelsea from the deal that saw Kurt Zouma leave Stamford Bridge for West Ham. Prosecutor Arizuna Asante while interrogating Granovskaia who was at the witness stand sought to know how bad the email was.
In response, the ex-Chelsea director said Rubie’s wording in the emails sent chills on her body because it felt like it was a physical threat.
“I felt physically threatened because of the language being used made it personal because he referred to the Kia [Joorabchian] incident,” Mails Sports reveals.
Former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. Photo/Arabic
Kia Joorabchian Incident
The prosecutor explained to the court about Kia Joorabchian incident which Rubie was involved in. Joorabchian was approached in a restaurant by someone representing Rubie, and he forcefully took his watch away
He confidently told him that he would keep the watch until he was paid. Further, Asante told the court that a dozen guys showed up at Joorabchian’s office thereafter and threatened him in the name of getting Rubie’s money.
Therefore; the email he sent Granovskaia felt a lot more like what happened to Joorabchian.
What Did Saif Rubie’s Email Say?
While started with decorum, he ended the email with very harsh words that scared Marina Granovskaia.
“At the end of a very unique season for you and Chelsea comes to an end, I am writing you to address the outstanding issues we have between us from the last two years. I will try to keep this email as short as possible and to the point,” the alleged email read in the introduction.
Rubie informed Granovskaia that he had had a discussion with another agent, Pini Zahavi while in Dubai and he informed him that Chelsea owed him [Rubie] 300,000 pounds.
He explained that this money was for the role he played in bringing the offer from West Ham for Kurt Zouma. Here is a part of the email.
“I was with Pini [Zahavi] (an agent) in Dubai recently and he told me that you had agreed to paying me (and my 2 partners on that deal) 300K GPB for bringing you the offer from West Ham for Kurt Zouma,” he stated.
The court further heard that the total fee of Zouma’s transfer was £ 29.1 million, including a £4.1m severance payment.
Former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. Photo/Metro
Marina Granovskaia. Photo/The Athletic
Rubie in the email told Granovskaia that he was aware the club was questioning Antonio Rudiger why he was associating with him. It was from this point that the besieged sports agent unleashed a barrage of threats.
“I went to visit Antonio and he told me that you had approached him questioning why he was friendly with me and was happy to deal with me. Who do you think you are going to players in this way and talking rubbish about me? What have I done to you to make you so bitter and terrible towards me? So for that I will give you a chance to make things correct if you apologise for your behaviour towards me.
“If you don’t then I promise you I will make you pay for the way you have been with me on a personal and business level. This is not a threat so take it how you want. This is a promise that I give to anybody who f****/tries to f*** me over in anything in life. In summary, you owe me and my partners 300k which needs to get paid ASAP. If Chelsea don’t pay it then that debt will be on you to pay. I am done trying to be nice to you.
Rubie pulled the Joorabchian card and reminded Granovskaia that he has his ways of dealing with anyone who refuses to pay him.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the story about your other friend Kia when he owed me money for a year and how he ended up paying it. Wouldn’t want you to be in the same situation just because you have a personal issue with me,” the email concluded.
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