David Sullivan Attends West Ham’s Carabao Cup Match Despite Advice

David Sullivan returned to public view at London Stadium on Tuesday night, taking his seat for West Ham United’s Carabao Cup tie against Portsmouth despite being advised to stay away from home matches.

The former co-chairman, who resigned in June after seven women accused him of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour – allegations he categorically denies – watched on as West Ham began life back in the EFL Cup’s opening round for the first time in 15 years following their relegation from the Premier League.

This was West Ham’s first game since the allegations against Sullivan were reported, turning what might have been a routine early-round cup fixture into a far more charged occasion off the pitch.

Sullivan, still the club’s largest single shareholder with a 38.8% stake, remains a powerful figure at West Ham despite stepping down from his boardroom role. His presence at London Stadium came after a spokesperson for the venue said on Monday that it had “recommended” to the club that he did not attend, citing concerns over potential fan unrest.

The backdrop is already fraught. A joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times revealed Sullivan has been banned from contact with West Ham’s women’s and youth teams for the past three years because of safeguarding concerns.

Even so, he made the journey to Stratford. Inside the ground, there were no obvious signs of trouble before kick-off or in the early stages of the match. No visible protests, no flashpoints. Just football, at least on the surface.

How long that uneasy calm holds around London Stadium, and around Sullivan’s continued influence, is a question that will linger far beyond one Carabao Cup night.