- Granovskaia is involved in an ongoing lawsuit with agent Saif Rubie
- A hearing next month could result in Chelsea having to release information
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Chelsea are facing having to reveal details of the allegedly questionable financial deals that got the club into trouble during the Roman Abramovich era.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed to Mail Sport that officer Saif Rubie has made a Section 8 application under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act – which covers the disclosure of relevant information in relation to a suspect’s case – in his ongoing lawsuit with former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.
A hearing on the application is scheduled for April 10 at Southwark Crown Court.
The development raises the prospect of Chelsea’s new regime being legally obliged to release information about controversial historic deals in which they were not involved.
In July last year, UEFA reprimanded Chelsea and fined them £8.6 million for ‘submitting incomplete financial information’ from 2012 to 2019, causing the club to breach UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules violate.
Chelsea may have to reveal details of alleged questionable deals during the Roman Abramovich era
Ex-director Marina Granovskaia is involved in a lawsuit with agent Saif Rubie, who has filed a request that could force the club to release information about various deals
Agent Saif Rubie (left), pictured talking to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s current regime, led by Todd Boehly, may be forced to reveal information about historic deals in which they were not involved
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At the time, a statement from Chelsea read: ‘The Chelsea ownership group completed the purchase of the club on May 30, 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion, the group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting on historical transactions during the previous activities of the club. property.
Immediately after completing the purchase, Chelsea reported it to UEFA. “Chelsea has assisted UEFA in investigating these matters and following analysis… the club has entered into a settlement agreement to pay €10 million (£8.6 million) to UEFA as a fixed payment.”
UEFA’s indictment led to 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 side Anzhi Makhachkala. The Times has since reported that alleged payments of millions of pounds to secretive offshore companies have been investigated.
A statement from Chelsea said: ‘These allegations predate the club’s current ownership. They concern entities allegedly controlled by the club’s former owner and do not relate to any individual currently employed at the club.”
In 2019, FIFA banned Chelsea from trading for two transfer windows after finding them guilty of breaching the 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 about how Abramovich financed the club’s successes after leaked files – known as Cyprus Confidential – revealed a series of alleged secret payments that may have breached 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 was also scrutinized
Chelsea faced further questions last year about how Abramovich financed the club’s successes after leaked files revealed a series of alleged secret payments that may have broken rules.
The allegations relate to a time before the acquisition of Chelsea by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Nevertheless, the club’s checkered financial past could come to light if the court rules that the information is relevant to the case involving Rubie and Granovskaia, which will take place later this year and relates to an alleged email that the agent to the former club. Chelsea director.
In 2022, the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into correspondence in which Granovskaia allegedly received payment notices from Rubie for a transfer involving Chelsea.
The investigation originally concerned allegations of blackmail by threat, before being downgraded to an allegation of malicious communications.
Rubie denies the accusation.