West Ham expects major shareholder David Sullivan at Cup tie despite stadium warning

West Ham United intends for its 77-year-old major shareholder David Sullivan to attend Saturday's Carabao Cup first-round game with Portsmouth, despite London Stadium officials recommending he avoid home fixtures. Sullivan resigned as co-chair in June after a joint Panorama and Times investigation revealed seven women accusing him of sexually exploitative behaviour, allegations he denies. The stadium has requested advance notice of any planned visits by Sullivan, who holds a 38.8% stake, to implement additional safety measures amid concerns of fan unrest.

This will be the Hammers' inaugural match since the allegations emerged, and the club anticipates a record crowd for a first-round cup tie. Sullivan has also been barred for three years from West Ham's women's and youth teams following a historical FA allegation in 2023. Off-field uncertainty continues with shareholder negotiations involving Vanessa Gold, Daniel Kretinsky and Amanda Staveley.