West Ham co-owner Sullivan denies misconduct claims amid regulator probe

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has vehemently denied allegations of sexual misconduct, which have prompted an investigation by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR). The regulator confirmed it is seeking "urgent information" regarding Sullivan's suitability under its owners, directors, and senior executives regime, following claims published by BBC Panorama and The Times.

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These deeply concerning allegations must be treated with the utmost seriousness and be investigated by the relevant authorities, with victims given the support they need.

Multiple women have accused the billionaire businessman of abusing his power and preying on young women for sex over several decades. The accusers were reportedly in their late teens or early twenties and seeking work as models at newspapers owned by Sullivan. The IFR described the allegations as "extremely serious" and stated it would assess whether there are grounds for concern about Sullivan's role at the club.

In response to the accusations, Sullivan has categorically denied any illegal conduct. The 77-year-old stepped down from his role as West Ham's joint chairman shortly before the allegations were published. In a statement, he declared his intention to fight what he called "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations" concerning his personal life, criticizing the investigations as "fundamentally unfair."

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After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me.

Sullivan suggested that given his long career in businesses related to the adult industry, where he has interacted with thousands of women, it was "inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me." West Ham United stated that Sullivan has denied any illegal conduct and is stepping aside to prevent disruption to the club while he addresses the matters privately. Sullivan has been a prominent figure at the club for 16 years.

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I wanted to focus on fighting what I described as 'factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations' concerning my personal life.