West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been barred from contacting the club's women's and youth teams for the past three years following safeguarding concerns. The Football Association initiated a safeguarding investigation in 2023 after receiving allegations regarding Sullivan's conduct.

As a result of the investigation, a safeguarding group comprising representatives from the club, the FA, and the local authority imposed the restriction. This group decided to prevent Sullivan, who was then co-owner and co-chair of West Ham United, from accessing these junior teams. The ban also prohibits him from attending their matches and remains in effect.

Sullivan has not commented on the ban, but has previously denied any wrongdoing. Despite these restrictions, he has continued to be a visible figure at the club, frequently attending the men's team games. He is the largest shareholder at West Ham.

The ban's existence was not publicly disclosed, allowing Sullivan to maintain a public presence. This comes amid wider allegations of misconduct. Sullivan resigned as co-chair and a director of West Ham on Saturday, just before a joint investigation by the BBC and The Times detailed accusations from multiple women. These women allege that the billionaire businessman abused his power and exploited them for sexual favors.

Sullivan has vehemently denied these allegations, stating he wishes to focus on combating what he describes as "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." He has also characterized the investigation as "fundamentally unfair."

The allegations brought forward span several decades, a period during which Sullivan amassed significant wealth from ventures in pornography, newspapers, and football. All accusers are women who were in their late teens or early twenties at the time and were young models seeking employment at his publications, the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.

Furthermore, the BBC and The Times investigation revealed that eight women, including one involved in the current investigation, have reported Sullivan's conduct to the police. To date, none of these police cases have led to charges. The Metropolitan Police have stated they take all allegations seriously.

Both West Ham and the Football Association have affirmed their commitment to robust safeguarding measures but have declined to comment on specific individual cases. The club's largest shareholder continues to hold his position, despite the ongoing scrutiny and the imposed contact ban.