The Independent Football Regulator has made contact with West Ham United over what it described as “extremely serious allegations” concerning West Ham co-owner David Sullivan, and says it is seeking “urgent information” from him regarding his suitability for the role.
Multiple women have accused the billionaire of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were in their late teens.
Sullivan has “categorically” denied the claims, which were uncovered by BBC Panorama and The Times.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson described the women’s accounts as “harrowing”.
The Metropolitan Police Service said it treats such allegations “extremely seriously” and added that “any information or evidence provided to police will be assessed and the appropriate enquiries carried out”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the “deeply concerning” allegations must be “treated with the utmost seriousness” and handled by the relevant authorities.
The allegations span several decades, dating back to when Sullivan built a fortune in pornography, newspapers and football.
All of the women involved say they were in their late teens or early twenties at the time and were young models seeking work at his Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.
The IFR, established in July 2025 to protect the financial stability and heritage of football clubs, has powers to act against “unsuitable owners and directors”. It said it may intervene where clubs are in “crisis”.
The regulator is expected to assess whether there are grounds for concern regarding Sullivan’s continued role at West Ham United.
It could open a formal investigation if sufficient material is obtained, focusing on whether he meets suitability requirements, including honesty and integrity.
A DCMS spokesperson said, “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 chamber.”
One woman, identified as Florence (not her real name), alleged she was forced to have sex with Sullivan in 1999 after attending a meeting at his Essex mansion arranged through the Sport newspaper’s then editor-in-chief, Tony Livesey.
She said Sullivan reviewed her modelling portfolio before asking her to strip to her underwear.
According to her account, he later suggested sexual contact in exchange for work opportunities, saying, “I’ll give you a little bit of work because you’ve taken the trouble,” and later, “then you’ll be one of my regular girls”.
Florence recalled him adding, “You’ll be in all the magazines. I can give you covers, I can give you centrefolds, and you’ll be one of my Sport girls,” and said she panicked during the encounter.
She also alleged Sullivan said, “This is the bit that will haunt me forever,” before adding, “He lifted his pinky in the air – his little finger – and he went, it’s all right, I’ll only put it in a little bit.”
Florence said she did not consent and was in “pure panic mode”, adding she is “99.999999%” sure she was saying: “I don’t want to, I don’t want to.”
Sullivan’s lawyers have described her account as “implausible” given the layout of his house.
Livesey, now a Tony Livesey, said he had “no recollection” of introducing any woman to Sullivan as described, insisting it was not part of his role. He also said he had “great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim”, but rejected any suggestion of involvement, calling the allegation “abhorrent”.
A BBC spokesperson said Livesey has stepped back from his radio presenting duties, stating, “The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously,” and “We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations. He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised by the programme.”
Another accuser, Sacha Wall, who chose to be named, said she was 24 when she visited Sullivan’s home in 1998. She alleged he asked her to undress to her underwear and suggested she could become one of his “special friends”.
Wall said she responded: “If you think I’m going to sleep with you to get in the paper, you’ve got another thing coming.”
She further alleged that when she tried to leave, the door was locked. Wall recalled saying, “He looked very shocked as I said that. And then said, what, not even a blow job?”
She said she replied “no”, after which she was eventually allowed to leave, adding she ran out of the house in fear.
Sullivan stepped down as joint chairman of West Ham United ahead of the publication of the allegations. In his resignation statement, he said he would focus on fighting “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations” and described the investigation as “fundamentally unfair”.
He also stated that “after a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me”.
West Ham United said Sullivan denied any “illegal conduct” and that his departure was intended “in order to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately”.
Sullivan, aged 77, had served as joint chairman for 16 years and remained the club’s largest single shareholder following the death of his long-time business partner, David Gold, in January 2023.
