David Sullivan is expected to be present at London Stadium on Saturday for West Ham United's Carabao Cup first-round match against Portsmouth, defying guidance that he should avoid attending home fixtures.
The 77-year-old stepped down as co-chairman of West Ham in June, shortly after a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times brought forward allegations from seven women accusing him of sexually exploitative and predatory conduct. Sullivan has firmly rejected the claims made against him.
Earlier this week, a representative for London Stadium confirmed to BBC News that the venue had advised West Ham against allowing Sullivan to attend matches, citing worries over potential unrest among supporters. The stadium has also requested that the club give advance warning of any visit by Sullivan, who still holds a 38.8% stake in West Ham as a major shareholder, so that extra safety and logistical measures can be arranged.
Saturday's game will mark the first fixture the Hammers have played since news of the allegations broke. The same investigation by Panorama and The Times additionally disclosed that Sullivan had been barred from any contact with West Ham's women's and youth setups for three years due to safeguarding concerns — restrictions that London Stadium officials say they were not informed of until the report surfaced.
That ban followed a historical allegation brought to the Football Association's attention in 2023, which Sullivan has previously insisted is untrue.
Even before these latest revelations, Sullivan had already faced sustained criticism from supporters over his stewardship of the club, particularly following West Ham's relegation to the Championship last season — their first drop out of the Premier League since 2011. While there has been some on-field stability, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and captain Jarrod Bowen both reaffirming their commitment to the club, considerable turbulence continues off the pitch.
Ownership matters remain unsettled. Vanessa Gold, daughter of Sullivan's late business partner and fellow former co-chairman David Gold, pulled out of a planned sale of part of her shareholding to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. She has instead struck an agreement to sell her full 25.1% stake to Amanda Staveley, known for fronting the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United.
However, Kretinsky has recently offloaded a portion of his own holding, reducing his stake to below 25%. That maneuver could allow him to acquire Gold's shares through West Ham's pre-emption rights, which give existing shareholders priority when new shares become available. Should he do so, Kretinsky would become the club's largest shareholder without triggering a separate rule that would obligate him to purchase the entire club.
Despite the swirling uncertainty surrounding ownership and Sullivan's position, football fans are set to turn out in force for Saturday's tie. West Ham have sold 55,000 season tickets ahead of the new campaign, and the match against fellow Championship club Portsmouth, kicking off at 15:00 BST, is expected to break the attendance record for a Carabao Cup first-round fixture.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.