Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant accused of sexual harassment
The most recent incident allegedly took place 18 months ago, with Grant apologising to anyone he made feel uncomfortable but flatly denying being physically aggressive.
Former Chelsea and Israel football manager Avram Grant has been accused of sexual harassment in an Israeli documentary.
The accusations, which have been made by multiple anonymous female journalists and models, relate to numerous incidents the most recent of which took place 18 months ago.
The 66-year-old, Israeli born manager has apologised to anyone he made feel uncomfortable but has flatly denied being physically aggressive towards women.
He added that any harm caused was unintentional.
In the Exposure TV documentary, multiple women alleged that Grant offered to advance their careers in exchange for sexual favours. They claimed that after rebuffing his advances, he refused to help them professionally, and that his behaviour was an open secret in the industry.
One woman, who was invited by Grant to his Tel Aviv apartment when she was 22, explained: “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.”
In response to the allegations made in the one-hour documentary, Grant said: “I have always sought to prioritise staying a human being and respect every woman or man, whoever they may be.
“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 told the Jewish News: “To add to my earlier statement, which I stand by, I want to be clear. I have never and I would never force myself on and be physically aggressive towards a woman. Or to anyone.
Any sexual relationship I have had with a woman has been consensual.”
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