West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been advised by London Stadium to avoid attending the club's home matches. This recommendation comes amid concerns about potential fan unrest following allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
A spokesperson for London Stadium, where West Ham plays, stated they "recommended" Sullivan not attend due to the "potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators." The stadium has requested advance notice of any planned visits from the billionaire businessman to implement additional safety measures.
The recommendation follows a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times, which reported that seven women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. Sullivan has categorically denied these allegations.
Despite the stadium's advice, West Ham reportedly expects Sullivan to defy the request and has informed London Stadium of this. The club intends to work with the stadium operators to facilitate his attendance at games.
Sullivan stepped down as joint chairman shortly before the investigation was broadcast, stating he wished to focus on fighting what he called "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." He remains the club's largest shareholder.
The investigation also revealed that Sullivan has been banned from contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams for three years due to safeguarding concerns, a restriction London Stadium was reportedly unaware of until the BBC's report. West Ham was relegated from the Premier League in May and is scheduled to play its first home game of the new season, a Carabao Cup match against Portsmouth, on Saturday.