The Independent Football Regulator could force David Sullivan to sell his 38.8% stake in West Ham United after the former pornography billionaire was accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against women over several decades.
Sullivan, 77, resigned as a director and co-chair of the club on Saturday, ahead of a joint investigation by the BBC and the Times that reported seven women accusing him of sexual misconduct. Three women alleged Sullivan abused his power as the owner of the Sport newspapers to prey on them for sex when they were seeking work. A further four women accused him of exploitative and predatory behaviour, including allegations he tried to pressure them into sex during business meetings.
“Football regulator could force David Sullivan to sell West Ham stake after accusations of sexual misconduct against seven women.”
The allegations span decades, starting in the 1980s, and involve women in their late teens and early 20s who were young models seeking work at Sullivan's Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. The BBC and Times said their reporters had spoken to dozens of former models and industry insiders, with some sources alleging Sullivan was known for “casting couch” behaviour.
One woman, using the pseudonym Florence, said she felt forced to have sex with Sullivan in 1999 when she went to his Essex mansion for a business meeting. She said Sullivan looked at her modelling portfolio and then asked her to strip down to her underwear. “I’ll give you a little bit of work because you’ve taken the trouble,” she recalled him saying. But she said he then told her in crude language that if she let him have sex with her, “then you’ll be one of my regular girls”.
Sullivan has “categorically” denied all the complaints. Through his lawyers, he said: “I categorically deny all of these complaints.” He added: “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.” He did not respond to follow-up queries from the Guardian.
The Independent Football Regulator, created in July 2025 under last year's Football Governance Act, said the allegations were “extremely serious” and confirmed it was seeking further information from Sullivan. An IFR spokesperson said: “These are extremely serious allegations. We are in contact with West Ham on this matter and will use our statutory powers to seek urgent information from David Sullivan relating to his suitability under our owners, directors and senior executives regime. We are unable to comment further at this stage.”
The regulator has the power to expel any figures it considers unsuitable, with “honesty and integrity” assessments of owners part of its remit. It can take action against “unsuitable owners and directors” when clubs are in “crisis”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson called the women’s accounts “harrowing”. A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “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.”
Sullivan, who remains the largest shareholder at West Ham, has been a prominent figure in English football for more than 30 years. The regulator is expected to use its statutory powers to determine whether there are grounds for concern regarding his role at the club. If it opens an investigation, Sullivan could be forced to sell his stake.