West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan attended the club's Carabao Cup first-round match against Portsmouth at London Stadium on Saturday, despite the stadium's landlord advising him to stay away following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The 77-year-old businessman, who stepped down as joint club chairman in June, was accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour by seven women in a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times. Sullivan has strongly denied all accusations, describing them as "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life."
London Stadium's safeguarding stance
London Stadium had issued a statement on Tuesday explaining that safeguarding issues were behind their advice for Sullivan not to attend. The statement read: "Following media reports at the end of the season regarding a safeguarding matter being managed by the club, London Stadium sought further information to ensure it could fulfil its own safeguarding responsibilities."
"Based on the information provided by the club, we understand the matter was investigated and that the club does not consider there to be an ongoing safeguarding risk associated with Mr Sullivan attending the stadium."
However, the statement added: "Given the potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators, we have recommended to the club that he does not attend. We have also requested advance notice of any planned attendance so that appropriate safety and operational measures can be put in place."
Sullivan's presence at the match
Sullivan was photographed in the stands during the match, which saw West Ham secure a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth. The attendance was bolstered by around 9,000 travelling Portsmouth fans, and there were no reports of unrest among supporters before or after the game.
The former chairman's decision to attend comes despite the explicit recommendation from London Stadium, which manages the stadium on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation. The club itself had not publicly commented on Sullivan's attendance prior to the match.
Background of allegations
The allegations against Sullivan emerged in June, leading to his resignation as joint chairman. In a statement at the time, Sullivan said he wanted to focus on fighting the allegations, which he maintained were false. The investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times involved interviews with seven women who accused him of inappropriate behaviour spanning several decades.
Sullivan has not been charged with any crime, and the allegations remain unproven. His legal representatives have previously stated that he "strenuously denies" all accusations.
The match itself passed without incident, with West Ham progressing to the second round of the Carabao Cup. Sullivan's presence, however, is likely to reignite debate over his role at the club and the handling of the safeguarding advice.
