Chelsea face legal battle with cat-kick star’s agent

Robin Bairner

• 21 Sept 2024 10:10 BST
• 2 min read

Chelsea are attempting to have a multi-million pound lawsuit filed against them by agent Saif Alrubie thrown out of court, according to a report.

The Telegraph states that Chelsea are embroiled in legal proceedings with the agent of former centre-back Kurt Zouma, who was infamously involved in a cat-kicking incident while on the books of West Ham that resulted in him pleading guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act.

Alrubie’s battle with the Blues, however, surrounds a claim relating to the club and former director Marina Granovskaia.

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It is reported that Chelsea believe the claim has been filed incorrectly and are seeking an arbitration process instead of one that will be played out in the courts.

Alrubie has released a statement via a spokesperson: “Chelsea and Ms Granovskaia have a clear interest in preventing [Alrubie’s] claim from being heard in open court given current investigations into the club and its activities under its previous ownership.”

Alrubie added: “The last two-and-a-half years have been incredibly difficult. As a fan of Chelsea FC, and having had a productive business relationship with the club over a number of years, I am saddened that I have been forced to take this step.

“It’s my sincere hope that we will be able to reach a resolution to this issue that is long overdue. I am hopeful that Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, and Chelsea FC will take the action necessary to right this wrong and close this chapter so that all parties can move on.”

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Chelsea face big bill

Initially, he believed that he was due fees of around £300,000 relating to the sale of Zouma to West Ham in 2021 but he now believes he is owed “10 times” this 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,” the agent told TalkSport.

Granovskaia has not commented on Alrubie’s claims.