Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has announced that it is actively communicating with West Ham United and intends to invoke its statutory authority to urgently gather information from club co-owner David Sullivan. This action follows serious allegations that raise questions about Sullivan’s suitability to hold his position under the Owners, Directors and Senior Executives (ODSE) regime.
Several women have come forward accusing the billionaire of exploiting his power for sexual favors, with some claims dating back to the period when they were in their late teens. Sullivan has vehemently denied these accusations, which were brought to light through investigations by BBC Panorama and The Times. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport described the allegations as “deeply concerning” and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities.
The accusations relate to a time when Sullivan accumulated his wealth through ventures in pornography, newspapers, and football. Each accuser was reportedly a young model, mostly in their late teens or early twenties, seeking work at newspapers owned by Sullivan, such as the Daily and Sunday Sport. The IFR has characterized the claims as “extremely serious” and plans to use its fact-finding powers to determine if there is cause to question Sullivan’s ongoing role at West Ham. Should such concerns arise, the regulator may launch a formal investigation into his suitability, taking into account qualities such as honesty and integrity.
Sullivan resigned from his position as joint chairman over the weekend, prior to the publication of the allegations on Monday. In his resignation letter, he stated that his intention was to combat what he described as “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations” concerning his personal life, calling the investigative coverage “fundamentally unfair.” He added, “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.” West Ham released a statement confirming that Sullivan denied any illegal activity and that he stepped down to prevent disruption to the club while he addresses the situation privately. The 77-year-old had held his leadership role for sixteen years and became the largest single shareholder following the death of his business partner, David Gold, in January 2023
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.