- Granovskaia is involved in an ongoing legal case with agent Saif Rubie
- A hearing next month could force Chelsea to disclose information.
- The Premier League needs to wake up! More than 5 minutes for a VAR check… what about paying customers in the stadium? – Everything starts podcast
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Chelsea will have to reveal details of the allegedly dodgy financial deals that mired the club during the Roman Abramovich era.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed to Mail Sport that a section 8 request under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act – which relates to the disclosure of relevant information relating to a defendant’s case – has was filed by agent Saif Rubie in his ongoing lawsuit with former Chelsea manager Marina Granovskaia.
A hearing on the application is scheduled for April 10 at Southwark Crown Court.
The development raises the prospect that Chelsea’s new regime will be legally obliged to disclose information about controversial historic deals in which it was not involved.
In July last year, UEFA reprimanded Chelsea and fined them £8.6 million for “submitting incomplete financial information” during the period 2012 to 2019, leaving the club in violation of UEFA club licensing and financial fair play regulations.
Chelsea may have to reveal details of alleged dodgy deals made during the Roman Abramovich era
Ex-manager Marina Granovskaia is involved in a legal case with agent Saif Rubie, who has filed a complaint that could force the club to disclose information on several transactions.
Agent Saif Rubie (left) pictured speaking to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge
The current Chelsea regime, led by Todd Boehly, could be forced to disclose information about historic deals in which he had no part.
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At the time, a Chelsea statement read: “The Chelsea ownership group completed the purchase of the club on May 30, 2022. During an extensive due diligence process prior to its completion, the group became aware of potentially incomplete financial information regarding historical transactions during the club’s previous ownership.
“Immediately following the completion of the purchase, Chelsea reported them to UEFA. Chelsea assisted UEFA in their investigation into these matters and, following analysis… the club entered into a settlement agreement to pay €10 million euros (£8.6 million) to UEFA as a fixed payment.
UEFA’s accusation sparked a Premier League investigation into a number of the club’s transactions during Abramovich’s reign, with a particular focus on the signings of Willian and Samuel Eto’o from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. The Times has since reported that allegations of millions of pounds of payments to secret offshore companies have been investigated.
A Chelsea statement read: “These allegations predate the current ownership of the club. They concern entities allegedly controlled by the former owner of the club and do not concern any individual currently at the club.
In 2019, FIFA banned Chelsea from trading for two transfer windows after finding them guilty of breaking rules on signing young players. Chelsea refuted FIFA’s findings and appealed. FIFA rejected the appeal, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately halved the club’s transfer ban.
Last November, Chelsea faced further questions over how Abramovich financed the club’s successes, after leaked files – known as Cyprus Confidential – revealed a series of alleged secret payments which could have break strict rules.
The Premier League investigated the signing of Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala last year
Samuel Eto’o’s arrival at Stamford Bridge from the Russian side has also been scrutinized
Last year, Chelsea faced further questions over how Abramovich financed the club’s successes after leaked files revealed a series of alleged secret payments that may have broken rules.
The accusations relate to a period before the acquisition of Chelsea by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Nonetheless, the club’s checkered financial past could be revealed if the courts find the information relevant to the Rubie and Granovskaia case, which is due to take place later this year and is linked to an alleged email sent by the agent to the former Chelsea Director.
In 2022, the Metropolitan Police opened an investigation into correspondence in which Granovskaia allegedly received payment requests from Rubie for a transfer involving Chelsea.
The investigation initially focused on charges of blackmail with threats, before being downgraded to a charge of malicious communications.
Rubie denies the accusation.