Alrubie v Chelsea Football Club Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 541 (Comm) (14 March 2025)

Alrubie v Chelsea Football Club Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 541 (Comm) (14 March 2025)

The dispute between Mr Alrubie and Ms Granovskaia arose while both were Participants bound by the FA Rules, including Rule K, which provides for arbitration of disputes between Participants. The arbitration agreement has horizontal effect between them. The right to arbitrate survives Ms Granovskaia ceasing to be a Participant. The claim falls within the scope of Rule K, and there is no basis for finding the arbitration agreement null, void, inoperative, or incapable of being performed. Accordingly, a stay of proceedings is mandatory under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 541 (Comm)
Parties
Claimant/respondent: Saif Alrubie; First Defendant: Chelsea Football Club Limited; Second Defendant/applicant: Marina Granovskaia
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
14 March 2025
Procedural Posture
Commercial Court Application (stay of Proceedings) / Application for Stay Under Arbitration Act 1996, Section 9
Outcome
Stay of proceedings granted under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
Legal Topics
Arbitration Agreements, Stay of Proceedings, Football Association Rules, Inducement of Breach of Contract, Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunals, Costs Orders
Arbitration Sports Law Contract Law Civil Procedure Arbitration Agreements Stay of Proceedings Football Association Rules Inducement of Breach of Contract +2 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 15 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 4
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Saif Alrubie

Claimant/respondent

Chelsea Football Club Limited

First Defendant

Marina Granovskaia

Second Defendant/applicant

Procedural Posture

Commercial Court Application (stay of Proceedings) / Application for Stay Under Arbitration Act 1996, Section 9

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the dispute between Mr Alrubie and Ms Granovskaia is subject to mandatory arbitration under Rule K of the FA Rules
  2. 2 Whether the arbitration agreement in Rule K has horizontal effect between participants
  3. 3 Whether Ms Granovskaia's cessation as a Participant affects the arbitration agreement

Ratio Decidendi

The dispute between Mr Alrubie and Ms Granovskaia arose while both were Participants bound by the FA Rules, including Rule K, which provides for arbitration of disputes between Participants. The arbitration agreement has horizontal effect between them. The right to arbitrate survives Ms Granovskaia ceasing to be a Participant. The claim falls within the scope of Rule K, and there is no basis for finding the arbitration agreement null, void, inoperative, or incapable of being performed. Accordingly, a stay of proceedings is mandatory under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Court Disposition

Stay of proceedings granted under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Orders

  • Proceedings stayed under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
  • Mr Alrubie to pay Ms Granovskaia's costs of the proceedings, including the application, to be assessed on the indemnity basis if not agreed.