Avram Grant, pictured with wife Tzofit in 2004, may
be questioned by police after he was photographed leaving a
'massage parlour'
The wife of Portsmouth
manager Avram Grant has hit back at allegations her husband
was caught in a 'Thai' brothel by claiming: 'He can do whatever he
likes with his body.'
Former Chelsea boss Grant, 54, whose Pompey side crashed to a
1-0 defeat at Fulham last night, may be quizzed by police in
connection with an alleged visit to a seedy 'massage parlour' they
are investigating.
Grant's TV presenter wife, Tzofit, today denied Grant paid for
sex and claimed he was simply looking for a relaxing massage.
The 45-year-old told Israeli sports newspaper
1One: 'Avram is a private
man and can do whatever he wants. 'Avram went in public, in the
middle of the day to have a Thai massage, not to a brothel. 'He
went to have a massage in the official uniform of Portsmouth. He
came out happy and smiling and does not have anything to hide. 'I
do not understand why people think they can invade our private
lives.
'Avram can do whatever he wants and the only anger I have is
that he does not go to have a Thai massage every day. 'The truth is
that if Avram wanted to go to a brothel, it is his right. He can do
whatever he likes with his body. 'We are very famous people but we
can do what we want in our free time.'
Grant, who finds himself answering to yet another new owner at
Portsmouth after Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai seized
control of the club last night, spent an hour at the dingy massage
parlour, named 'FuFu's'.
The massage parlour not far from Portsmouth's training
ground which Grant was spotted leaving
The parlour was fitted with a large multi-person
whirlpool bath and wooden sauna
The brothel was located an industrial estate, in the
village of Horton Heath, four miles from Portsmouth's training
ground in Eastleigh, Hampshire, on December 18.
Asian working girls charged £130 an hour for full intercourse
before it was shut down three days ago. When he emerged wearing his
club tracksuit, emblazoned with his initials 'AG', Grant was asked
by a reporter if he knew it was a brothel.
He smiled and replied 'yes' before getting into a chauffeur
driven car. UK privacy laws prevented his identity being revealed
until this week in the wake of John Terry's failed bid to gag the
press from revealing his affair with Vanessa Perroncel.
Sources in Israel claim the couple have an 'open relationshp'.
Hampshire Police have confirmed they are investigating the parlour.
Grant is set to be questioned by vice squad officers as a witness
if their enquiry results in anyone being charged with living off
immoral earnings.
Smells like trouble: Portsmouth boss Avram Grant
makes his way to the dug-out at Craven Cottage
A police spokesman said: 'We are aware of certain
allegations that have been made in connection with that location.
There is nothing to evidence the allegations at the
moment.'
The brothel is listed on escort website 'Punternet'. Reviews say
it has a Jacuzzi and a range of girls aged between 20 and 40.
Grant has refused to comment over the allegations, which heap
more embarrassment on crisis club Portsmouth. The 2008 FA Cup
winners are £60 million pounds in debt and face being wound up next
week by HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill of £11
million pounds.
Grant, who guided Chelsea to the Champions League final, takes
his struggling side to Manchester United tomorrow after being
assured he would not be sacked. A club source said: 'The club will
not be making any comment officially but these allegations do not
affect Avram's job. 'This is a personal matter and what Avram gets
up to in his free time is his own business.'