AVRAM GRANT’S father claims Chelsea sacked his
son because Roman Abramovich caved in to anti-Jewish
critics.
Meir Granat, whose family were victims of the
Holocaust, believes Abramovich bowed to anti-Semitic feelings
against Grant — despite the Blues’ owner being a Russian Jew
himself.
Outraged Granat, 80, said: “I have never met Roman
Abramovich and I don’t know him. But I was sure that, as a Jew, he
would support Avram. “Yet Abramovich was probably influenced by the
anti-Semites and could not stand the pressure of the negativity
against Avram and the publicity against him.”
It was an astonishing attack, though not the first time
anti-Semitic claims have been raised. Grant’s agent Pini Zahavi
recently argued anti-Semitism was having an influence on his
client’s chances of staying at the club.
And Grant has also received death threats linked to his
background. Grant pleaded for his job at a 2½-hour meeting at
Abramovich’s London mansion on Saturday.
A pal said: “He is very hurt and disappointed by what
has happened. He knows certain members of the board always wanted
to get rid of him.”