West Ham shareholder David Sullivan brings £150m claim against BBC
David Sullivan, West Ham United’s co-owner and largest shareholder, is suing the BBC for £150m over a Panorama documentary that carried allegations of sexual misconduct by several women. Sullivan denies the claims and says the programme damaged his reputation and business interests. The BBC’s response is not provided.
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan is suing the BBC for £150m over allegations of sexual misconduct broadcast in a Panorama documentary, according to a High Court claim reported by the Guardian. The programme, “Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss”, aired in June. It featured three women who alleged that Sullivan had abused his power as owner of the Sport newspapers by preying on women seeking work.
Four other women accused him of exploitative or predatory behaviour, including allegedly pressuring women for sex during business meetings. The BBC and the Times said their joint investigation involved interviews with dozens of former models and industry insiders. Some sources alleged that Sullivan had been associated with “casting couch” behaviour.
The source material does not say that any criminal charges have been brought in relation to the documentary’s allegations. Sullivan denies the claims. Before the programme aired, he described the allegations as factually incorrect and false.
His High Court claim accuses the BBC of libel and malicious falsehood, and says the programme caused severe and lasting harm to his reputation and commercial interests. Sullivan has resigned as West Ham’s co-chair but remains the club’s largest shareholder, with 39% of its shares. The material also says he has faced restrictions on contact with the club’s women’s and youth teams since 2023 because of a safeguarding investigation.
Through lawyers, Sullivan said those restrictions followed a negotiated and temporary agreement. He said the investigation concerned a single anonymous complaint relating to an event in 1981 and denied that the alleged incident occurred. The documentary also led presenter Tony Livesey to step back from the BBC.
Livesey had previously been editor-in-chief of Sullivan’s Sport newspapers. One alleged victim said Livesey arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan; Livesey said he had no recollection of introducing her and that such an action was not part of his job. The BBC is also facing legal action from Donald Trump over a Panorama episode that edited together parts of a speech.
The corporation has apologised for that edit while maintaining that the programme did not defame Trump. The source material does not provide the BBC’s response to Sullivan’s claim.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.