David Sullivan, co-owner and largest shareholder of West Ham United, attended the club's Carabao Cup match against Portsmouth at the London Stadium on Saturday, despite advice to stay away from home games. Sullivan, 77, faces multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Sullivan has stated he believes he is being "bullied" by "keyboard warriors" into missing the match. Operators of the London Stadium had advised against his attendance due to concerns over potential fan unrest. West Ham's fan advisory board had also warned that his presence would cause "offence and upset."
Sources close to Sullivan indicated his decision to attend was driven by concerns over the team's performance as they enter their first season in the Championship in 14 years, as well as a lack of activity in the summer transfer window. Sullivan felt it was necessary to observe the team's first game of the season.
In June, Sullivan resigned as co-chair ahead of a BBC Panorama and Times investigation in which seven women accused him of predatory behavior, including pressuring them for sexual favors in exchange for career advancement. Sullivan has called these allegations "factually incorrect and entirely false." The investigation also revealed that Sullivan had been banned from contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams for the past three years.
Sources close to Sullivan also claim he has received messages from fans urging him to attend matches. Last season, his presence at games led to continued protests from supporters, including marches, boycotts, and displays of red cards.
Prior to Sullivan's attendance, the London Stadium's operator requested to be informed of any planned visits to implement safety measures. West Ham informed the operator that they do not believe there is an ongoing safeguarding risk associated with Sullivan attending the stadium.
Recent developments concerning club ownership include an announcement in June that Vanessa Gold, daughter of former co-owner David Gold, agreed to sell part of her stake to shareholder Daniel Kretinsky. However, last week, Gold accepted a new offer from a consortium led by Amanda Staveley for her shares. Staveley's consortium agreed to purchase a 25.1 percent stake for £150 million, valuing the club at approximately £600 million. This deal would still leave Sullivan as the leading shareholder. Staveley has reportedly also made an offer to Sullivan, who is believed to be open to selling his stake but values it higher.