Arabic version: ديفيد سوليفان يواجه حظراً من فرق ويست هام النسائية والشبابية

David Sullivan, co-owner of West Ham United, has been banned from any contact with the club’s women’s and youth teams for the last three years due to safeguarding concerns. This decision came after the Football Association (FA) launched a safeguarding investigation in 2023 following allegations regarding Sullivan’s conduct. According to BBC News, a safeguarding group comprising the club, the FA, and the local authority determined that Sullivan should not have access to these teams.

The restrictions on Sullivan were not publicly disclosed, allowing him to maintain a visible presence at men’s team games in the director’s box. Despite resigning as co-chair and a director of West Ham on Saturday, he remains the club’s largest shareholder. Sullivan denies the allegations against him, describing them as “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life.”

The investigation into Sullivan’s conduct has revealed multiple accusations from women who were young models seeking work at his newspapers. Eight women have reportedly approached the police regarding their experiences, although none of these cases have led to charges. The Metropolitan Police stated that they take such allegations seriously and will assess any information provided.

In light of the allegations, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones has called for a review of how the police handled the disclosures about Sullivan. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her concerns about the seriousness of the allegations and emphasized the need for transparency from the FA and West Ham regarding their handling of the situation. West Ham has maintained that it has robust safeguarding measures in place but cannot comment on specific individual cases.