West Ham co-owner David Sullivan banned from women's and youth teams over safeguarding concerns

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has been barred from interacting with the club's women's and youth teams for the past three years following safeguarding concerns. The Football Association initiated a safeguarding investigation in 2023 after receiving allegations regarding Sullivan's conduct. As a result, a safeguarding group comprising representatives from the club, the FA, and the local authority decided to restrict Sullivan's access to these teams and prevent him from attending their matches.

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factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life

The restrictions, which remain in place, were not publicly disclosed. Sullivan, who is the club's largest shareholder, continued to be a visible figure, often seen at men's team games. He resigned as co-chair and a director of West Ham shortly before a BBC and Times investigation detailed accusations from multiple women alleging abuse of power and predatory behavior.

Sullivan has denied all allegations, characterizing them as "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." He has described the investigation as "fundamentally unfair." Both West Ham and the Football Association have stated they have robust safeguarding measures but declined to comment on specific cases.

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extremely serious allegations

The allegations span decades, with women who were young models seeking work at Sullivan's newspapers accusing him of misconduct. Eight women have reportedly approached the police with disclosures about Sullivan's conduct, though no charges have been filed. The Independent Football Regulator has also contacted West Ham regarding the "extremely serious allegations" and is seeking information from Sullivan about his suitability for his role.

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harrowing