Billionaire West Ham co-owner David Sullivan faces explosive allegations that he abused his position as a national newspaper proprietor to coerce women into sexual relationships, with multiple accusers claiming he told them they needed to sleep with him to feature in his publications. The accusations, detailed in a joint investigation published this week, span a period from the late 1980s through the 2000s and involve women who appeared in Sport Newspapers titles, including the Sunday Sport and Daily Sport, which Sullivan owned before selling the group in 2007.
Sullivan, 77, who has co-owned West Ham United alongside David Gold’s estate and Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky since 2010, “categorically denies” the allegations through his legal representatives. Five women have come forward with on-the-record accounts, while a further seven have provided corroborating testimony anonymously. The Metropolitan Police confirmed it has received information relating to the claims but has not opened a formal investigation, while the Premier League said it was “aware of the reports” and would assess them under its owners’ and directors’ test.
The allegations and the women’s accounts
The accusers describe a remarkably consistent pattern. Women who responded to modelling adverts or were approached for newspaper photo shoots say they were summoned to Sullivan’s offices in Soho, or in some cases to properties he owned in central London, where he allegedly told them that page bookings, payment rates and continued work were contingent on sexual compliance. One woman, who appeared on the front page of the Sunday Sport in 1992, told reporters she was 19 when Sullivan allegedly propositioned her, saying that “the girls who play ball get the covers.”
Another accuser, who worked across three Sport titles between 1998 and 2003, said she was paid £150 for shoots that industry rates suggested should have commanded £400 to £600, and that Sullivan explicitly linked higher fees to private meetings. A former Sport Newspapers editorial assistant, speaking publicly for the first time, corroborated the financial pattern and said complaints raised internally were dismissed. Sullivan’s spokesperson said all commercial arrangements at the newspapers were “standard for the era” and that the proprietor “rejects in the strongest possible terms any suggestion of impropriety.”
A pattern of controversy at the top of West Ham
Sullivan’s tenure at West Ham has been defined by both commercial expansion and persistent supporter discontent. He and the late David Gold purchased the club out of near-administration in January 2010 for £105m and oversaw the controversial 2016 move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, a relocation subsidised by taxpayers that valued the club at more than £700m within five years. Forbes most recently estimated West Ham at $890m (£700m).
The latest allegations follow a turbulent twelve months in the East End boardroom. Sullivan stepped back from day-to-day operations earlier this month, citing health reasons, with vice-chair Karren Brady assuming an expanded role. Supporter groups, including the Hammers United alliance that organised protest marches against the ownership in 2021 and 2022, called on Sunday for Sullivan to sell his 38.8 per cent stake. “These allegations are incompatible with the standards a Premier League club should represent,” the group said in a statement.
What happens next at board level and beyond
The Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test, strengthened in 2023 to allow disqualification on the basis of conduct rather than only criminal conviction, provides a mechanism for review even in the absence of police action. League officials have not committed to a formal process, but precedent from the 2023 Newcastle and Chelsea ownership reviews suggests any inquiry would take at least six months.
Three immediate questions now confront the club and the league:
- Whether the Met Police, having confirmed receipt of information, will progress to a formal investigation or refer the matter to Operation Hydra, the unit handling non-recent sexual offence allegations.
- Whether Sullivan’s reported plans to sell down his stake to Kretinsky, first mooted in 2023, accelerate in light of the reputational damage.
- Whether the Premier League opens a Section F1 owners’ test review, which could ultimately compel divestment.
For West Ham supporters, who have endured a relegation battle this season under three different managers, the timing compounds an already difficult campaign. The club is due to host Liverpool at the London Stadium on Saturday, with Brady expected to attend in Sullivan’s absence. The wider questions about accountability at the top of English football, however, will extend well beyond a single fixture.
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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