West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is facing allegations from seven women that he abused his power to prey on them for sex, claims the now former joint-chairman denies.
In a Panorama documentary airing on Monday, the women say they were subjected to sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour from Sullivan when they models seeking work at the Daily and Sunday Sport, a publication run by Sullivan.
The allegations, which stretch back to the 1980s, have been uncovered as part of a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times. Sullivan is accused of pressuring the women for sex during business meetings and offering career incentives to women for sleeping with him or giving him oral sex.
One woman, given the pseudonym Florence, said she felt pressured to have sex with Sullivan when she did not want to.
The claims, which all come from women who were in their late teens or early twenties, have been “categorically” denied by Sullivan.
A statement released by BBC Panorama and The Times on Saturday read: “BBC Panorama and The Times newspaper have been working together on a joint investigation into the behaviour of David Sullivan, who has announced he is stepping down as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC. Over decades, he’s made millions from pornography, newspapers, and football. The investigation is due to be broadcast and published on Monday.”
Sullivan resigned from his position as joint-chairman of West Ham ahead of the broadcast of the allegations.
His statement read: “I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published.
“The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media. 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. I categorically deny these claims.
“I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as.
“I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication. I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality. I will be suing the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libelous allegations.
“None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football; West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply about the club, its supporters, its players, its staff, and its future. 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.
“Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC with immediate effect.
“This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward.
“I am stepping down to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations. I have officially engaged my legal team and we are preparing to issue legal proceedings in respect of each and every false complaint that has been made against me. I will be seeking full redress, legally and publicly, on every single front.”
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