Sullivan set to attend West Ham EFL Cup tie despite advice not to

What the report says

West Ham are expecting major shareholder David Sullivan to attend Saturday’s Carabao Cup first-round match against Portsmouth, even though he has been advised not to go to home games at the London Stadium. The guidance follows concerns about possible fan unrest, according to a London Stadium spokesperson cited by BBC Sport.

Sullivan, 77, stepped down as West Ham co-chair in June after a BBC Panorama and Times investigation reported allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. He has denied those claims. BBC Sport also reported that he has been barred from contact with West Ham’s women’s and youth teams for the past three years because of safeguarding concerns, a restriction London Stadium said it had not known about until the BBC report.

The match against Portsmouth will be West Ham’s first since the allegations were made public. Sullivan still holds a 38.8% stake in the club, and London Stadium has asked for advance notice if he plans to attend so extra safety and operational measures can be arranged.

The situation comes amid wider uncertainty around West Ham off the pitch, including shareholding developments involving Vanessa Gold and Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. On the field, the club is trying to settle after relegation last season, while Saturday’s game is expected to draw a large crowd for an EFL Cup first-round tie.