Sullivan Attends West Ham Match Despite Warnings

David Sullivan was back at the London Stadium on Saturday night, watching West Ham’s Carabao Cup win over Portsmouth, despite clear advice that he should stay away from home games.

The former joint chairman and director, who resigned from his roles in June, took his seat as West Ham eased past Portsmouth 3-1 to reach the second round. His presence, though, was about far more than a routine early‑round cup win.

Sullivan stepped down ahead of the publication of an investigation by The Times and BBC Panorama into allegations of sexual misconduct, allegations he has strongly denied. Since then, the question has not just been about his position at the club, but about whether he should be anywhere near the stadium on a matchday.

On Monday, a London Stadium spokesperson told Sky Sports News that the venue had “recommended” to West Ham that Sullivan should not attend games. The concern was blunt: fan unrest.

The warning did not come from the stadium alone. The West Ham United Fan Advisory Board (FAB) also urged Sullivan to stay away from home fixtures, arguing that his presence risked becoming a “distraction” and a potential security issue.

In a detailed statement, the FAB said it remained worried that Sullivan attending matches at the London Stadium would cause “offence and upset” to sections of the support and might provoke negative reactions inside the ground. For a club still trying to manage its identity in a vast, modern arena, the prospect of internal flashpoints is no small matter.

The FAB went further, pointing directly to West Ham’s own ground regulations. Those rules state that entry can be refused to any individual whose presence could represent a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to others. It was a pointed reminder that this is not just an ethical debate, but one with clear regulatory backing if the club chooses to act.

Yet on Saturday, Sullivan was there. No ban. No formal block. Just a swirl of tension around a 3-1 win that, on another night, might have passed with barely a mention beyond the scoreline.

West Ham are through. The questions around who should be allowed to watch them from the stands are only just beginning.