David Sullivan agreed to stay away from members of West Ham’s women’s and youth teams following a historic complaint.
The former joint chair of the club, who resigned last week, said he had entered into a “temporary agreement” with the Football Association not to meet with any academy or women’s players alone while the body resolved a complaint about an incident alleged to have taken place in 1981.
The revelation comes after the BBC and The Times reported that the FA had opened a safeguarding investigation in 2023 after receiving allegations about Mr Sullivan’s conduct.
Mr Sullivan said the agreement was not a “ban” and denied that the event at the centre of the historic complaint ever took place.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the FA must explain “why no further action was taken” following the investigation. It is understood that West Ham United and the FA reject this.
On Monday, the BBC and The Times reported the accounts of seven women who claimed that Mr Sullivan had engaged in sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. The accounts from the women date back to the 1980s and 90s, when he owned the tabloid newspapers the Daily Sport and the Sunday Sport.
According to the reporting, the claims about Mr Sullivan involve him pressuring young or aspiring models in their late teens or early twenties.
Mr Sullivan said the claims are “entirely false” and that he “categorically denies” them.
Ms Nandy said in a statement on Tuesday evening: “These latest revelations are utterly horrifying.
“If it is the case that an investigation concluded that there were sufficiently serious allegations to warrant a ban on contact with the youth and women’s teams, then the FA must explain this decision and why no further action was taken.
“I expect a full and urgent explanation from the FA and West Ham as to how these incredibly serious allegations have been handled.”
Mr Sullivan said the restriction was a “negotiated agreement” with the FA.
“I wish to clarify recent media reports regarding a negotiated agreement with the Football Association, which has been inaccurately described as a disciplinary ‘ban’,” he told The Independent.
“In my entire 16 years at West Ham United, I have never met any academy or women’s team players 1-2-1. Therefore, a negotiated and temporary agreement with the FA not to do so until the FA resolved an outstanding complaint in relation to a single anonymous complaint regarding an event in 1981 was entered into.
“The complaint had nothing to do about my time in football, and it never happened. I saw it as a meaningless restriction, as it didn’t impact on my work in any way, therefore I accepted it for a quiet life.”
The FA said it was unable to comment on individual safeguarding cases, but that it took all allegations “very seriously” and worked closely with police.
A spokesperson said: “We operate a robust safeguarding programme across every level of English football, and all referrals to us are handled in line with our rigorous and stringent policies and procedures.
“Appropriate action is always taken against individuals who pose or may pose a risk of harm to children and adults at risk in football.
“This includes issuing appropriate suspensions in accordance with our safeguarding regulations. The aim of our process is to safeguard children and adults at risk.”
A West Ham United spokesperson said: “West Ham United has clear and robust safeguarding measures in place, measures that are independently assessed and audited on an annual basis. The club is unable to comment or provide details on any individual safeguarding matter as per safeguarding best practice.”
In a statement at the weekend announcing that he was stepping down as chair of West Ham, Mr Sullivan said: “The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media.
“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.
“I categorically deny these claims.”
