Former Chelsea coach Avram Grant accused of sexual harassment by multiple women on Israeli TV

Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual harassment in an Israeli TV documentary.

The 66-year-old, who led Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final before being sacked, responded to the Exposure TV show on Israel’s Channel 12 by apologising to anyone he had caused to feel uncomfortable. 

Although he did not initially address the central allegations in his response, he has since denied being physically aggressive towards women to Sportsmail.

The accusations relate to numerous incidents involving several female journalists, the most recent of which took place 18 months ago when the alleged victim was just 22.

One woman claimed she was invited to Grant’s apartment in Tel Aviv in June 2020 with an offer to help her find work, before he allegedly asked her to take off her clothes and refused to let her leave. 

Ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women

Grant, 66, was accused of using his prominent position to try and coerce several women (who have had their identities protected in the TV investigation, right) into sexual relations

She said: ‘He told me, ‘Make yourself comfortable, take off your clothes.’ I thought he was joking. I was sitting far away from him, on the edge of the couch.

‘He asked me to come closer and tried to hug me, really grabbed me and did not let go. I felt uncomfortable, he put his hand on my thigh, and I remember immediately moving his hand. After a few seconds of talking, he grabbed me by the neck, turned my head to him and tried to kiss me by force.’

Several women alleged that Grant offered to assist them in their careers when starting out, before making inappropriate comments and sending harassing messages over a number of years.

Grant, who also managed Portsmouth, West Ham and Israel in a coaching career that ended in 2017 after a three-year spell in charge of Ghana, insisted any harm he had caused was unintentional. 

Grant (pictured with Frank Lampard while managing Chelsea in the 2007-08 season) did not deny the accusations and insisted any harm he had caused was unintentional

Grant is pictured with Lampard and his wife Christine at an awards night in London in 2018

‘I have always sought to prioritise staying a human being and respect every woman or man, whoever they may be,’ he said.

‘I am a people person, a man of friendships. And over the years I have maintained relationships with women. In all these I have tried very hard to treat them with respect and friendship and I never intended to behave unfairly or in any way harm any woman.

‘Anyone who has felt uncomfortable or hurt by me, I regret it and apologise from the bottom of my heart.’

Grant also provided an additional statement to Sportsmail on Monday, saying: ‘I have never and would never force myself on and be physically aggressive towards a woman. Or to anyone. Any sexual relationship I have had has been consensual.’

Grant (pictured centre in December 2021) insisted any harm he had caused was unintentional

The football manager led Portsmouth to the 2010 FA Cup final where they lost to Chelsea