West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has been banned from having contact with the club’s women’s and youth teams since 2023 after safeguarding concerns were raised.The decision, which was first reported by the BBC, was made by the club, the Football Association and the local authority in 2023 after the FA opened a safeguarding investigation having received allegations regarding Sullivan. The ban, which was not made public, has also kept Sullivan from attending the games of both teams. He was not prevented from contact with West Ham men’s team and has continued to attend men’s games regularly during this period.The Athletic has contacted Sullivan for comment.A statement from West Ham said: “West Ham United has clear and robust safeguarding measures in place, measures that are independently assessed and audited on an annual basis. The club is unable to comment or provide details on any individual safeguarding matter as per standard practice in the industry.”The FA said in a statement: “We are unable to comment on individual safeguarding matters, including cases that remain active.“We operate a robust safeguarding programme across every level of English football, and all safeguarding referrals are handled in line with our rigorous and stringent policies and procedures.“We investigate and assess allegations and concerns within our jurisdiction about individuals who pose or may pose a risk of harm to children and adults at risk in football. We work with statutory agencies, including the police where necessary, and we always take proportionate safeguarding measures, including issuing suspensions when they are appropriate, in accordance with FA safeguarding regulations.”On Monday, Sullivan, 77, was accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against seven women over multiple decades.The claims were published on Monday in a joint investigation by the BBC, as part of its Panorama programme, and The Times and accuse Sullivan of abusing his power at a time when he was owner of the adult-themed Daily and Sunday Sport newspaper. The accusations, which date back to the 1980s, were by seven different women in their late teens or early twenties, who 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” and said he would be taking legal action.The BBC and The Times 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.Two days before before the investigation was published, Sullivan stepped down as joint-chair of West Ham with immediate effect and resigned as a director of the club and at WH Holding Limited. A statement from West Ham, which Sullivan has co-owned since 2010, said that decision came after he was “made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations.”The club added in its statement that “none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations”.After stepping down to fight the allegations, Sullivan called it an “incredibly painful decision to make”, adding “none of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football. At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability.”On Tuesday, Uma Kumaran, Labour MP for Stratford and Bow, urged Sullivan to sell his 38.8 per cent stake in the club .“The reports about David Sullivan are deeply disturbing,” Kumaran said. “All relevant authorities, including the new football regulator, must investigate these claims in full and as a matter of the utmost urgency.”Kumaran added that Sullivan’s alleged behaviour would be “illegal in every single workplace in the country — the fact that David Sullivan is the billionaire owner of a football club does not change that.“Anyone who behaves as David Sullivan is reported to have behaved should be nowhere near an office or a board room of any sort, no matter their job title.”Given the seriousness of the claims he is facing, she added that Sullivan should “do the right thing and step down as owner.”West Ham fan advisory board member Andy Payne told The Athletic that there is “no way back for David Sullivan in football” and described the allegations as “deeply disturbing.”“The issue of Sullivan’s shares should be a matter of urgency,” said Payne. “He needs to sell up as soon as possible…the club needs a complete reset.”A spokesperson for the Department for Culture,Media and Sport told The Athletic regarding Sullivan: “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.“The government stands strongly against any form of harassment or abuse of power in the workplace and is working across industries to stamp it out and build an environment where people feel safe and able to challenge inappropriate behaviour.”Sullivan made his wealth from the pornographic industry, establishing a number of adult magazines and shops, and was estimated to have a wealth of £1.1billion ($1.4bn) in the most recent Sunday Times Rich List.Jun 9, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. 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