Saif Alrubie, a football agent, is accused of sending a threatening email to Marina Granovskaia, a former Chelsea director. Alrubie claimed he was owed a percentage of the transfer fee from the sale of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea to West Ham in August 2021 and demanded payment from Granovskaia. The prosecution alleges that Alrubie implied in the email sent on May 22, 2022, that Granovskaia might “suffer the fate” of another agent, Kia Joorabchian, who was allegedly accosted and intimidated by people demanding payment.
Alrubie, 45, denied the allegations, claiming he never intended to threaten physical intimidation or violence and only intended to threaten legal action. He also expressed his disappointment at being arrested on the day of the Queen’s funeral, comparing his treatment to that of drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Alrubie explained that he had a meeting in Dubai a few weeks after sending the email with representatives from a firm that managed Chelsea Football Club’s security. He said he felt the meeting “dealt with and addressed” the issue.
The court heard that Granovskaia had previously told Alrubie that if Zouma sold for more than 30 million euros, he would get a commission. However, the prosecution stated that those exchanges were “not binding” because they occurred “pre-contract.” Alrubie maintained that he was “not a cowboy” and that it was “always the position” that he would get a commission if the transfer fee exceeded 30 million euros. He claimed he was “very much due” a commission and was “cut out” of the deal sheet.
Granovskaia explained to jurors on Tuesday that the transfer fee for Zouma was split, with around £25 million going to Chelsea and around £4 million going to the player. Alrubie dismissed this explanation, stating, “A transfer fee is a transfer fee. She might as well have included the utility bills they were paying. It’s nonsense.”
The trial continues on Thursday. Alrubie denies a single charge of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.
