The billionaire co-owner of West Ham United has resigned after a BBC Panorama investigation accused him of using his power over young models to pressure them into sex. Seven women have come forward with allegations spanning from the 1980s to the 1990s, when David Sullivan ran the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. The claims, which Sullivan denies, have reopened questions about the exploitation of young women in the glamour modelling industry and the accountability of powerful figures in football.
David Sullivan, 77, made his fortune from pornography, newspapers and football. He became joint-chair of West Ham in 2010. The allegations involve women who were in their late teens or early twenties and seeking work as models at his tabloid newspapers. They accuse him of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, including telling them they needed to have sex with him to feature in his papers.
“An explainer on the allegations of sexual exploitation against West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.”
One woman, called Florence in the investigation, said she felt forced to have sex with Sullivan even though she did not want to. She said he told her during a business meeting at his home that she could be one of his newspapers' "regular girls" if they had sex. Another, Mia, said she felt she had no choice but to have sex if she wanted to be in the paper. Two women said they went to Sullivan's house with their mothers and he attempted to pressure them into sex. A teenage model called Beth found Sullivan lying in bed wearing a dressing gown when she arrived for a meeting; she said he asked her to parade topless for him.
The only alleged victim named in the investigation is Sacha Wall, a 24-year-old glamour model in 1998. She said she went to an Essex address expecting a business meeting but it turned out to be Sullivan's private home. He told her to get changed and then asked her to take off her bra. When she sat down, he said he could put her in the paper but needed her to be one of his "special friends". She refused.
Sullivan has "categorically" denied the claims, describing the investigation as "fundamentally unfair" and based on "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." Hours after the BBC and The Times confirmed they would publish the investigation, he resigned as joint chair of West Ham, saying he wanted to focus on fighting the allegations.
The investigation also revealed that Sullivan has separately admitted paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl who, he says, he believed was 16 or 17 years old. He was in his 40s at the time. It only became illegal to pay for sex with a 16- or 17-year-old in 2003, so this was not illegal at the time.
Who is David Sullivan? David Sullivan is a British businessman who made his fortune through pornography and the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. He became co-owner of West Ham United in 2010 and served as joint-chair until his resignation in June 2026.
What exactly is he accused of? Seven women accuse Sullivan of sexual exploitation and predatory behaviour when they were young models seeking work at his newspapers. The alleged incidents include pressuring them for sex during business meetings, locking a woman in a room, and using his power to make them feel they had no choice but to comply.
What has David Sullivan said in response? He denies all the allegations, calling them "factually incorrect and entirely false". He resigned from his role at West Ham to focus on fighting the claims.
What is the Panorama programme called? The programme is called "Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss" and was broadcast on BBC One.
Why is this relevant to UK readers? The story highlights the abuse of power in the media and football industries, and the vulnerability of young women seeking work in modelling. It also comes amid wider conversations about sexual misconduct and accountability, following the #MeToo movement.
What happens next? Sullivan has stepped down from West Ham. The BBC and The Times continue to investigate, and further legal or regulatory action may follow. Sullivan has not indicated whether he will take legal action against the media outlets.