Essex Police have been contacted with new information about David Sullivan following a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation into the West Ham co-owner. Police confirmed there had been “some contact and enquiries into those are now under way” after the investigation was published on Monday.
The investigation revealed that multiple women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour dating back from the 1980s. Sullivan has categorically denied the allegations. The 77-year-old resigned as joint chairman of West Ham on Saturday, just days before the findings were made public.
“Essex Police are investigating new information about West Ham co-owner David Sullivan after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.”
It also emerged that Sullivan had been banned from contacting the club’s women’s and youth teams over safeguarding concerns. The restrictions had been in place for three years after a historic allegation about his conduct was raised with the FA in 2023. They had not been made public, and he continued to attend men’s first-team matches.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held urgent “fact-finding” meetings with the Football Association and West Ham after the BBC revealed the restrictions. She called for a “full and urgent explanation” of how the “incredibly serious allegations” had been handled. West Ham is understood to have made clear it was confident in its “robust safeguarding measures”.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sullivan said he had never met any academy or women’s team players “1-2-1” during his 16 years at West Ham. He said the complaint “had nothing to do about my time in football and it never happened”. He added: “I saw it as a meaningless restriction, as it didn’t impact on my work in any way, therefore I accepted it for a quiet life.” Sullivan said it was inaccurate to describe the agreement as a “disciplinary ‘ban’”.
The investigation also revealed that eight women, including one who was part of the investigation, have gone to the police with disclosures about Sullivan’s conduct. None of those cases have resulted in charges.
Meanwhile, Boyle Sports, one of West Ham’s main sponsors, said it had not been made aware of the restrictions placed on Sullivan. In a statement, the company said it was “extremely concerned at the serious nature of the allegations levelled against David Sullivan” and that it “wholeheartedly supports” the urgent review by the Independent Football Regulator.