London Stadium has advised West Ham co-owner David Sullivan to avoid attending the club's home matches, citing concerns over potential fan unrest. The recommendation comes amid allegations of sexual misconduct against Sullivan, which he has denied.
Sullivan stepped down as joint chairman shortly before a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times revealed that seven women have accused him of sexually exploitative and predatory behavior. He has stated that he wants to focus on refuting what he called "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." Sullivan remains the club's largest shareholder.
In addition to the allegations, the investigation brought to light that Sullivan has been banned from contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams for three years due to safeguarding concerns. London Stadium was reportedly unaware of these restrictions until the BBC's report.
The ban followed a historic allegation about his conduct raised with the Football Association in 2023. Sullivan has previously asserted the allegation is false. He stated that because he had not met any academy or women's team players "1-2-1" during his 16 years at the club, he accepted the restriction as a way to ensure "a quiet life."
West Ham's upcoming home game, a Carabao Cup match against Portsmouth, is scheduled for Saturday. The club was relegated from the Premier League in May.
A spokesperson for London Stadium, which operates the publicly owned venue, said that following media reports at the end of the last season concerning a safeguarding matter being managed by the club, the stadium sought further information to ensure its own safeguarding responsibilities were met. According to the stadium, West Ham stated that the matter was investigated and the club does not believe there is an ongoing safeguarding risk associated with Sullivan attending the stadium.
Despite the club's assurances, London Stadium recommended Sullivan stay away from games due to the "potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators."
West Ham has declined to comment on the recommendation. It is understood that the club intends to collaborate with stadium operators to facilitate Sullivan's attendance at future games. Mr. Sullivan has not responded to a request for comment.