Former Chelsea chief executive Marina Granovskaia faces questions over secret off-the-books payments allegedly made during Roman Abramovich’s ownership after being named in leaked documents

Former Chelsea chief executive Marina Granovskaia is facing questions over what she knew about secret, off-the-books payments allegedly made under the ownership of Roman Abramovich.

Details of millions of pounds in fees including a payment to Eden Hazard‘s agent emerged last year as part of a cache of leaked documents known as the Cyprus Confidential files.

According to The Guardian, the documents appear to show that Granovskaia was made aware of the payment to Hazard’s agent, John Bico, as well as fees related to the transfers of Willian and Samuel Eto’o to Chelsea. 

It has also been reported that offshore companies connected to Abramovich made personal loans to Granovskaia worth £7.5million to buy a house in Fulham, as well as a £1.63m payment for ‘financial, tax and legal diligence’.

Granovskaia left Chelsea within two weeks of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completing their takeover in May 2022 and received £35m for her part in the sale. 

Details of millions of pounds in fees including a payment to Eden Hazard’s agent emerged as part of a cache of leaked documents known as Cyprus International (pictured: Abramovich)

Granovskaia has not commented.

In a separate development Granovskaia’s role at Chelsea is set to be scrutinised in a court case next month involving the agent Saif Rubie, who has been charged with malicious communications following an email sent to her over a disputed fee.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s fanbase is in a state of civil war after the club’s Fan Advisory Board defended the owners against claims by the Supporters’ Trust that Boehly and Co are turning the Blues into a ‘laughing stock’ and risked fan protests.

Yet the Fan Advisory Board – set up by the club last year and made up of seven lifelong fans – blasted any attempts to create ‘chaos and division’.