West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is suing the BBC for a reported £150 million over sexual assault allegations made against him in a Panorama documentary. The High Court claim seeks damages for the publication of defamatory material in the programme.
Legal action over documentary allegations
Sullivan's representatives have been instructed to pursue the compensation three months after the release of 'Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss'. The documentary, broadcast on June 8, featured allegations from former models seeking work at Sullivan's Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers.
In the programme, seven women accused the Hammers chief of abuses of power in a "casting couch" environment. Two days before the documentary aired, Sullivan resigned as director and co-chairman of West Ham, though he retains a 38.8% shareholding in the club.
Denials and police investigations
The 77-year-old, who made his fortune in the porn industry before moving into journalism and football, claimed the accusations were "entirely false" and "sensationalised". He said he had not been provided with any proper explanation as to how the individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication.
Sullivan added that the "entire process has been fundamentally unfair" and was "lacking in any due impartiality." Following the documentary, reports indicated that police investigations dating back 18 years into sexual misconduct claims against him had been dropped without charges. Cases in 2008, 2021 and 2023 did not lead to prosecutions, with inquiries mostly involving Essex Police.
Safeguarding measures and response
It was also reported that the Football Association had implemented safeguarding measures to prevent Sullivan from having contact with West Ham's youth and women's teams. He denied that these actions constituted a "disciplinary ban" and argued they were merely a "temporary agreement."
Sullivan added: "The complaint had nothing to do about my time in football and it never happened." His representatives confirmed that GSP Law Limited has been instructed to issue and pursue a claim against the BBC for damages suffered as a consequence of the publication of defamatory material in the programme broadcast on June 8, 2026. The BBC was made aware of this intention prior to broadcast and has been informed that a claim has now been filed with the High Court.
