Saif Rubie posts gloating GIF after football agent found not guilty of sending threatening email to Marina Granovskaia
Football agent Saif Rubie has reacted after being acquitted of sending a threatening email to former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia – by posting a gloating GIF on social media.
The 45-year-old heard the not guilty verdict at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where he faced trial under the Malicious Communications Act. Granovskaia testified last week that she felt "physically threatened" by Rubie's email concerning the payment structure for Kurt Zouma's transfer from Chelsea to English Premier League rivals West Ham United.
However, Rubie, who denied sending Granovskaia, aged 47, an electronic communication with the intent to cause distress or anxiety, was exonerated by a jury after a week-long trial. Overcome with emotion, Rubie wept as the decision was announced and Judge David Tomlinson immediately discharged him.
And he took to X to post a Viggle AI GIF of him walking out on stage celebrating in front of a a huge crowd. One poster responded, saying: "Absolute legend. The truth always prevails."
Rubie had claimed he was owed a fee from Zouma's move in the summer of 2021, with the court hearing the total transfer fee amounted to £29.1 million, including a £4.1 m severance payment to the French player.
It was also revealed during the trial that Granovskaia, who departed Chelsea following Roman Abramovich's sale of the club, had increased her personal security in response to the email.
While giving evidence, Granovskaia expressed her reaction to the email, saying: "Very uncomfortable would be an understatement. I felt physically threatened because of the language being used made it personal."
However, Rubie refuted these claims in court, stating: "I'm sending an email to a woman who is the right hand of Roman Abramovich, one of the biggest Russian businessmen in the world. I'm only Saif Rubie ... I'm a small agent.
"I don't think I would be stupid enough to be threatening anybody let alone somebody with the might of Roman Abramovich (behind them). That would just be me on a suicide mission. I'm not that stupid."