A major West Ham United sponsor has expressed serious concerns over allegations of sexually predatory and exploitative behavior made against the club’s co-owner, David Sullivan. Boyle Sports, a principal partner of West Ham and whose logo appeared on the front of their men’s and women’s team shirts last season, is the first of the club’s commercial partners to comment on the claims made about Sullivan in a joint investigation by the BBC and The Times.

In a statement to The Athletic, a Boyle Sports spokesperson said: “BOYLE Sports is extremely concerned at the serious nature of the allegations levelled against David Sullivan. It is our understanding that the Independent Football Regulator is reviewing this matter urgently and we wholeheartedly support their efforts in doing so.”

The BBC/Times investigation accused Sullivan, 77, of abusing his power while he was owner of the adult-themed Daily and Sunday Sport newspaper. The accusations, which date back to the 1980s, were made by seven different women in their late teens or early twenties, who claim Sullivan preyed on them for sex in return for advancing their modelling careers.

Sullivan has said that he “categorically denies” all the allegations and called them “factually incorrect and entirely false.” He also said he would be taking legal action. The BBC and The Times also reported that Sullivan was the subject of investigations by Essex Police and London’s Metropolitan Police after eight women made disclosures about his behavior. He was also arrested in 2008 by Essex Police on suspicion of sexual assault following an allegation made by a 25-year-old woman. No charges were brought in any of these cases.

It has also emerged that Sullivan has been suspended from having contact with West Ham’s women and youth sides since 2023 after safeguarding concerns were raised. Sullivan said in a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday that he feels the suspension was “a meaningless restriction” given his lack of contact anyway with those teams and that he accepted it for “a quiet life.” He said that it was mutually agreed with the Football Association while it looked into one specific complaint, which he denies. He has not been prevented from interacting with the men’s team or attending men’s matches during this period.

West Ham have continually insisted that the allegations made about Sullivan, who has resigned his position as vice-chair but remains the club’s biggest shareholder with a 38.8 per cent stake, are unrelated to the club or any of its operations. But the intervention of Boyle Sports, one of the club’s biggest partners, is likely to raise concerns about the commercial effect the allegations could have on the club.

Boyle Sports is Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker and signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with West Ham in July 2025. It is the only principal partner listed on West Ham’s website. The Athletic has contacted West Ham and the club’s other commercial partners for comment.