West Ham co-owner Sullivan resigns as regulator seeks urgent suitability data

David Sullivan has resigned as joint chairman of West Ham United following allegations of sexual abuse and misuse of power made by multiple women. The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has contacted the club regarding the "extremely serious allegations" and is seeking urgent information from Sullivan concerning his suitability for the role.

The claims, uncovered by BBC Panorama and the Times, allege that Sullivan abused his power to prey on women for sex, in some cases when they were in their late teens or early twenties. The allegations span decades of Sullivan’s career, relating to his time making a fortune from pornography, newspapers, and football. All accusers were young models seeking work at Sullivan's Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.

Sullivan, 77, has categorically denied the claims, describing them as factually incorrect and entirely false. In his resignation statement, he characterised the investigation as "fundamentally unfair" and noted that after a lifetime in the adult industry, it was "inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me". He stated he was stepping down to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately.

West Ham United confirmed Sullivan’s denial of any illegal conduct and his departure. The club noted that Sullivan had held the joint chairman position for 16 years and remains the largest single shareholder following the death of his business partner, David Gold, in January 2023. Sullivan stepped down over the weekend, prior to the allegations being published on Monday.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated that the "deeply concerning" allegations must be treated with the utmost seriousness and investigated by relevant authorities. A spokesperson emphasised that the government stands strongly against harassment or abuse of power in the workplace.

The IFR is expected to use its statutory powers to determine if there are grounds for concern regarding Sullivan’s role. If the regulator obtains such material, it may open an investigation into his suitability, assessing factors such as honesty and integrity.