David Sullivan resigned as joint-chairman and director of West Ham United on June 6, 2026. Two days later, a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times laid out why.
Seven women have accused Sullivan of leveraging his position as the owner of various newspapers to coerce them into sex, with allegations stretching back to the 1980s. Sullivan has denied all of the claims, calling them false, and has stated he intends to sue the BBC and other media outlets for libel.
What we know about the allegations
The accusations center on Sullivan’s earlier career in tabloid media and the adult industry, where he initially built his fortune before moving into football. According to the BBC Panorama and Times investigation, the women allege that Sullivan abused his power as a newspaper owner to pressure them into sexual encounters.
Police investigations into similar complaints were conducted in 2008, 2021, and 2023. All three were dropped without charges being filed.
