West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations
Sullivan categorically denies claims of sexual exploitation, stating he intends to sue the broadcaster, while admitting to historical payments for sex that were legal at the time.
David Sullivan has resigned as joint chairman of West Ham United following a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times, which detailed allegations of sexual exploitation from seven women. The billionaire co-owner stepped down hours after the publication of the report, which outlines claims that he abused his power to pressure young women into sexual acts in exchange for modelling careers at his publications, the Daily and Sunday Sport, during the 1980s and 1990s.
Sullivan, 77, has categorically denied the allegations, describing them as factually incorrect and entirely false. In a statement, he characterised the investigation as fundamentally unfair and announced his intention to sue the BBC. He acknowledged paying for sex with a girl he believed was 16 or 17 in the 1990s but noted that such conduct was not illegal at the time, as the age of consent for paying for sex was raised to 18 in 2003.
The investigation centres on accounts from women who were in their late teens or early twenties when they sought work as glamour models. Accusers allege that Sullivan, then in his 40s, used his position as a gatekeeper in the industry to demand sexual favours, including oral sex, in return for features in his newspapers. Several women described feeling trapped in business meetings, with some reporting that doors were locked or that they were manoeuvred into bedrooms by the businessman.
Legal representatives for Sullivan have dismissed the accounts as implausible, particularly regarding the layout of his home. However, the report includes corroborating evidence such as diary entries, police records, and interviews with friends and family. Eight women have made disclosures regarding Sullivan’s conduct to the Metropolitan or Essex Police, though no charges have ever been brought against him. Essex Police recently reviewed several cases and concluded there was insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings, although a police chief noted a missed opportunity to search Sullivan’s property.
The resignation raises significant questions for football authorities regarding their oversight of club ownership. The Football Association has previously launched a safeguarding investigation into Sullivan, and West Ham was recently accredited by White Ribbon UK for its efforts to end male violence against women. The club stated it has robust safeguarding measures in place but could not comment on individual matters. Sullivan’s departure follows the recent relegation of West Ham from the Premier League and the resignation of vice-chair Baroness Karren Brady.
