West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has been advised to stay away from the club's home matches after a BBC Panorama and Times investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. London Stadium, the publicly owned venue where West Ham play, said it had recommended Sullivan avoid games due to concerns about potential fan unrest, though it is understood the club expects him to defy this and attend anyway. Sullivan, who has categorically denied all allegations, stepped down as joint chairman shortly before the investigation aired but remains the club's largest shareholder.

The investigation found that seven women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, and revealed he has been banned from contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams for three years over safeguarding concerns, a restriction London Stadium was unaware of until the report. The ban followed a historic allegation raised with the Football Association in 2023, which Sullivan has called false and "meaningless". London Stadium said West Ham told it there was no ongoing safeguarding risk, but it still urged Sullivan's absence given the "potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour". West Ham, relegated from the Premier League in May, play their first home game of the new season against Portsmouth on Saturday; the club declined to comment and Sullivan has not responded to requests for comment.