Police have been contacted with new information about David Sullivan following a BBC Panorama and Times investigation into the West Ham co-owner.
Essex Police said there had been "some contact and enquiries into those are now under way" after the joint investigation was published on Monday.
The investigation revealed that multiple women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour dating back from the 1980s. Sullivan has categorically denied the allegations.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has held urgent "fact-finding" meetings with the Football Association (FA) and West Ham after the BBC revealed Sullivan was banned from contacting the women's and youth teams over safeguarding concerns.
Sullivan has been under the restrictions for three years after a historic allegation about his conduct was raised with the FA in 2023. The restrictions had not been public and he continued to attend men's first team matches.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sullivan said he had never met any academy or women's team players "1-2-1" during his 16 years at West Ham
He said 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," he said.
Sullivan said it was inaccurate to describe this agreement as a "disciplinary 'ban'".
In response, Nandy called for a "full and urgent explanation" of how the "incredibly serious allegations" about Sullivan had been handled.
She had meetings with West Ham and the FA on Wednesday to seek answers on its response to the safeguarding concerns.
West Ham is understood to have made clear it was confident in its "robust safeguarding measures".
Meanwhile, it has emerged Boyle Sports, one of West Ham's main sponsors, had not been made aware of the restrictions placed on Sullivan.
In a statement, Boyle Sports said it was "extremely concerned at the serious nature of the allegations levelled against David Sullivan".
"It is our understanding that the Independent Football Regulator is reviewing this matter urgently and we wholeheartedly support their efforts in doing so," the statement added.
The BBC and Times investigation also revealed that eight women, including one who was part of the investigation, have gone to the police with disclosures about Sullivan's conduct. None of those cases have resulted in charges.
Sullivan, 77, held the joint chairman position at West Ham for 16 years, and was the club's largest single shareholder following the death of his business partner, David Gold, in January 2023.
He resigned as joint chair on Saturday, saying he wanted to focus on fighting what he called "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life".
In his resignation statement, Sullivan said that "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 and the FA have previously said they have clear and robust safeguarding measures in place, and were unable to comment on individual cases.
Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss
A joint investigation by Panorama and the Times newspaper into the behaviour of David Sullivan, who has announced he is stepping down as co-chair and director of West Ham United Football Club. Over decades, he has made millions from pornography, newspapers and football.
Do you have information relevant to our investigation? Get in touch at sullivaninvestigation@bbc.co.uk
If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line
Water cannon fired in latest disorder after Belfast knife attack
US and Iran exchange strikes across Middle East for second day in a row
Essex Police given new David Sullivan information
Olivia Rodrigo sings about heartbreak but she's already chosen her wedding song
An Everest guide's miraculous survival raises questions for tourism industry
Hidden homeless women are being missed from official figures, charities warn
Uptick in children and teenagers enjoying reading for first time in 5 years
'Two of my children play for England, I still pinch myself'
A World Cup guide for new football fans
'Second night of unrest' and 'Yes we Kansas'
My wife's 'unadoptable' baby was left to die at unmarried mothers' home
Identical twin given six months to live says leaving sister is 'unthinkable'
A twisted true tale of power, perception and control
Why did Wilko falter during a cost-of-living crisis?
Stream all episodes of the new drama from the creator of Baby Reindeer
How a game of football in 1970 changed the sport forever
US and Iran exchange strikes across Middle East for second day in a row
Trump says he 'loves the inflation' as US prices rise at fastest rate in three years
Water cannon fired in latest disorder after Belfast knife attack
'Second night of unrest' and 'Yes we Kansas'
Mike Ashley's Frasers offers £1.73bn to buy all of Hugo Boss
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
Essex Police given new David Sullivan information
What can this pothole tell us about the state of UK roads?
An Everest guide's miraculous survival raises questions for tourism industry
Which World Cup stars have roots near you?
Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
About the Author
