West Ham United’s largest shareholder David Sullivan has been accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against women over several decades.The historic claims, dating back to the 1980s, were published in a joint investigation by the BBC, as part of its Panorama programme, and The Times on Monday afternoon, two days after Sullivan resigned from his position as West Ham’s joint chair.Seven different women came forward to accuse Sullivan of abusing his power at a time when he was owner of the adult-themed Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.All of the women were either in their late teens or early twenties at the time of the alleged incidents and claim Sullivan preyed on them for sex in return for advancing their modelling careers.Sullivan told the BBC and The Times that he “categorically denies” all the allegations which he says are “factually incorrect and entirely false”.They also reported that the 77-year-old was the subject of investigations by Essex Police and London’s Metropolitan Police after eight women made disclosures about Sullivan’s behaviour. He was also arrested in 2008 by Essex Police on suspicion of sexual assault following an allegation made by a 25-year-old woman. No charges were brought in any of these cases.Separately, the media organisations also reported that Sullivan has admitted to paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl who he claims he believed was aged 16 or 17 at the time. In 2003, the UK law was changed to make it illegal to pay for sex with a 16- or 17-year-old.David Sullivan at West Ham’s final game of last season against Leeds, which confirmed relegation (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)West Ham stressed in a statement issued on Saturday that “none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations” but English football’s new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has confirmed it is seeking “urgent information” this evening.The IFR, introduced through the Football Governance Act of last year, now oversees its own Owners, Directors and Senior Executives (ODSE) regime for clubs across the Premier League and EFL and holds powers to expel any figures it considers unsuitable. Included are “honesty and integrity” assessments of owners.“These are extremely serious allegations,” said an IFR spokesperson. “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 BBC and Times’ two-year investigation into Sullivan’s conduct includes the testimonies of seven women, with the majority choosing to speak under the condition of anonymity.