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David Sullivan is set to launch a £150million legal battle against the BBC over allegations of sexual misconduct made against West Ham United's former co-chair in a Panorama documentary.

According to The Telegraph, Sullivan is "on the brink" of lodging a High Court claim for libel and aggravated damages against the corporation, almost four months after the programme 'Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss' was broadcast.




Sullivan, 77, resigned as the club's co-chairman and director in June, just days before the BBC and The Times published their joint investigation. At the time, he said he was stepping down so that he could devote his "full energy and attention" to fighting what he described as "false allegations".

He also made his intentions regarding the BBC perfectly clear. "I will be suing the BBC for libel," Sullivan said in his resignation statement, adding that he would take action against other media organisations if they repeated what he regarded as libellous allegations.

Now, according to The Telegraph, that threat has become a £150million claim.

The Panorama investigation, produced in conjunction with The Times, examined allegations made by at least seven women concerning Sullivan's conduct during his time in the newspaper and adult entertainment industries. The allegations relate principally to the 1980s and 1990s, prior to Sullivan's involvement in West Ham.

Sullivan has categorically denied the allegations and has repeatedly described them as false. He has also questioned the way the BBC and The Times conducted their investigation, arguing that he was not given sufficient explanation as to how the claims had been independently verified or assessed.




Although Sullivan resigned from the board, he has not sold his stake in the club. He remains West Ham's joint-largest shareholder, owning up to 40 per cent of the club. Still, his continued presence has already proved awkward for his successors.

In August, LOS operators recommended that Sullivan stay away from home matches amid concerns about potential supporter unrest. Despite that request, he subsequently attended West Ham's Carabao Cup victory over Portsmouth, taking his place in the stands.

For a club which has spent much of the summer attempting to draw a line under an extraordinarily turbulent period — including relegation, changes at board level and the departure of several senior figures — the prospect of a high-profile libel case involving its largest shareholder is hardly going to make life quieter.

The allegations had also prompted police enquiries and scrutiny of the way previous complaints regarding Sullivan were handled.

The Telegraph has reported that investigations dating back to 2008, 2021 and 2023 ended without prosecutions, while The Times previously reported concerns over the extent of evidence supplied to prosecutors. Sullivan has not been charged with any offence and continues to deny all allegations against him.




There was also the previously reported safeguarding issue concerning Sullivan's contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams. Sullivan disputed the description of the arrangement as a disciplinary "ban", describing it instead as a temporary agreement relating to an anonymous historic complaint which he also insisted was false.

Sullivan's 16-year association with West Ham United has been one of the most divisive periods in the club's history.

His partnership with the late David Gold delivered a hugely controversial move to the London Stadium and also generated years of arguments over ownership, recruitment, managerial appointments and the direction of the club.

Now the former chairman is taking on one of Britain's biggest broadcasters in a legal action reportedly worth £150million. Whether the claim ultimately reaches a full trial, is settled beforehand or develops into an even wider legal confrontation remains to be seen.

One thing is certain, though. He may have left the West Ham boardroom, but the Sullivan saga is showing absolutely no sign of disappearing quietly into the distance.




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