West Ham United’s joint chairman David Sullivan, 77, announced his resignation on Tuesday,citing "factually incorrect and entirely false" claims about his private life . He said the decision was made to spare the club, which is already grappling with relegation, from further distraction and confirmed he will sue the BBC and any outlet that repeats the allegations .

David Sullivan Resigns Amid Personal Allegations

Sullivan’s statement, released through his lawyers, described the media coverage as "sensationalised" and denied any wrongdoing. he emphasized that the accusations do not relate to his three‑decade involvement in football, including his tenure at West Ham. According to the club’s official release, Sullivan stepped down from both the joint‑chair role and his directorship at WH Holding Limited.

Sullivan Plans Libel Suit Against BBC and Other Outlets

The former chairman announced his intention to pursue libel action against the BBC, stating he will also target any other media that repeat the defamatory claims . He criticized the verification process, claiming he was never shown how the allegations were vetted for credibility. As reported by the club, Sullivan has engaged a legal team to prepare proceedings against each complaint .

Interim CEO Karim Virani Leads Club During Turbulent Period

Following Sullivan’s exit, interim chief executive officer Karim Virani will continue to oversee day‑to‑day operations. The club’s statement said Virani reports to the Board of Directors and that an updatte on the board’s future structure will be provided later. This leadership continuity comes as West Ham adjusts to life in the Championship after a 2‑0 loss to Leeds United confirmed relegation.

Ownership Remains Unchanged: Sullivan Still Holds 50% Share

Despite resigning, Sullivan clarified he remains West Ham’s largest shareholder, retaining the 50 % stake he purchased with the late David Gold in 2010. He pledged not to comment further publicly while reserving all legal rights. The club reiterated that the historic allegations are unrelated to its operations or performance.

Open Question: Who Originated the Allegations?

The source of the "historic" claims has not been disclosed, and no other party has been identified as the accuser. It is also unclear whether any independent investigation has been launched to verify the claims before they reached the press.