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West Ham Co-Owner David Sullivan Resigns Amid Serious Allegations
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Denmark /Culture & Society

West Ham Co-Owner David Sullivan Resigns Amid Serious Allegations

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has stepped down as club chairman amid serious allegations of inappropriate behavior.
  • Sullivan denies the decades-old accusations, calling them "factually incorrect and completely false," and will focus on fighting them.
  • The move comes after years of fan protests demanding his resignation and amid reports of a potential increase in ownership by Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has immediately resigned as chairman of the football club, citing serious allegations of inappropriate behavior that are expected to be made public soon. The club confirmed its awareness of the impending accusations, stating they do not pertain to the club's operations.

Sullivan, a 77-year-old businessman, addressed the accusations in a personal statement, describing them as a "minor number of allegations of inappropriate behaviour." He firmly rejected the decades-old claims regarding his private life, labeling them as "factually incorrect and completely false." His decision to step down after 16 years is intended to allow him to fully concentrate on combating these allegations.

"Therefore, after careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to step down," Sullivan stated, according to the BBC. He has also resigned as a director of the company that owns West Ham. Sullivan became the largest shareholder following the death of his business partner, David Gold, in 2023.

During their tenure, Sullivan and Gold oversaw the controversial relocation of the club from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, a move that sparked numerous protests from disgruntled fans. Protests demanding Sullivan's resignation have continued into the past season. Meanwhile, Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky, who acquired a 27 percent stake in the club in 2021, is reportedly expected to increase his share.

alvorlige

โ€” West HamWest Ham stated they were aware that 'serious' allegations against Sullivan would soon be made public.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.