The British government has described allegations that billionaire co-owner of West Ham United, David Sullivan, preyed on women for sex as "deeply concerning". The 77-year-old recently stepped down as joint chair of the London club to fight what he called "false allegations" about his private life, but remains the club's largest shareholder.
Reports emerged in British media on Monday detailing accounts from seven women accusing Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behavior dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, when he owned the tabloid newspapers Daily Sport and Sunday Sport. The women claim Sullivan pressured young or aspiring models in their late teens or early 20s.
A spokesman for the UK's Department for Culture, Media and Sport said on Tuesday: "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." Speaking Saturday before the allegations were made public, Sullivan said he "categorically denies" all claims. Neither he nor his lawyers have made further public comment since Monday.
London's Metropolitan Police said they are investigating a report relating to the "alleged taking of indecent images and sexual exploitation at locations in London and Essex in the 1980s", involving one alleged victim. The force said they take all allegations of offences against women and girls extremely seriously, regardless of the time elapsed.
Sullivan stated over the weekend: "The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media... After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims." He added that stepping down from West Ham was "incredibly painful" but done out of love for the club.
The BBC confirmed it is investigating allegations that Tony Livesey, former editor-in-chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport, helped facilitate a meeting between Sullivan and one of his accusers. Livesey, currently a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live, has asked to step back from his show for a short period.
Sullivan and business partner David Gold completed their takeover of West Ham after selling Birmingham City. Their tenure saw the unpopular move from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium in 2016, sparking fan protests. Gold died in 2023, while Karren Brady left her role in April. England's Independent Football Regulator (IFR) said Monday it is in contact with West Ham over the "extremely serious allegations" and will seek information on Sullivan's suitability under its owners and directors regime.
Source: www.aljazeera.com