West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has denied allegations of sexual misconduct after the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) confirmed it is seeking information about his suitability under its owners, directors and senior executives’ regime.
The move follows claims published by BBC Panorama and The Times, in which several women accused the billionaire businessman of abusing his position and targeting young women seeking modelling work at his Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. The women were reportedly aged in their late teens or early twenties.
The IFR described the allegations as “extremely serious” and said it was in contact with West Ham to gather urgent information. The regulator will assess whether there are grounds for concern regarding Sullivan’s continued role at the club.
Sullivan, 77, has strongly denied the allegations and said he has engaged in no illegal conduct. He recently stepped down as West Ham’s joint chairman, saying he wanted to focus on defending himself against what he called “factually incorrect and entirely false” claims.
West Ham said Sullivan had denied any illegal behaviour and was stepping aside to prevent disruption to the club while he deals with the matter privately.
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the allegations must be treated seriously and investigated by the appropriate authorities. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to tackling workplace harassment and abuse of power.
