David Sullivan, the co-owner of West Ham United, is suing the BBC in a £150 million defamation claim over a Panorama documentary that examined historic allegations about his conduct.
The High Court claim, lodged in early October, centres on Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss, which was broadcast in June as part of a joint investigation by the BBC and The Times. The programme featured allegations from seven women about Sullivan's behaviour during the 1980s and 1990s, when he built his fortune in the adult publishing industry as the owner of the Sport newspapers.
According to court documents seen by Sky Sports News, Sullivan argues the documentary falsely portrayed him as a sexual predator engaged in criminal behaviour. He alleges the BBC failed to meet the standards of responsible journalism, ignored evidence that challenged key allegations and presented disputed claims as fact. The Telegraph reported that the papers accuse the corporation of showing a reckless indifference to the truth and say the programme caused him grave, catastrophic and irreparable harm.
As well as £150 million in damages, one of the largest defamation claims brought against the BBC in recent years, Sullivan is seeking a court order requiring the documentary to be removed from BBC platforms and preventing further publication of the allegations. The BBC has been approached for comment.
The women featured in the programme accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. Three said he had abused his power as a newspaper owner to prey on them for sex when they were seeking work; others accused him of pressuring them into sex during business meetings and offering to advance their careers in return. Sullivan denies every allegation, calling them factually incorrect and entirely false.
In a statement issued when he stepped down as West Ham's joint-chair on June 6 after 16 years in the role, Sullivan said the false allegations had been sensationalised by the media and that, after a lifetime building businesses in the adult industry in which he had met thousands of women, it was inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims would be made against him.
The joint BBC and Times investigation behind the documentary was a lengthy one: reporters spoke to dozens of former models and industry insiders, with some sources alleging Sullivan was known for casting couch behaviour during his years running the Sport newspapers. Sullivan vowed to take legal action even before the programme aired, and the £150 million claim is one of the largest defamation suits ever brought against the BBC.
Sullivan, 77, retains a 38.8 per cent stake in West Ham, which was relegated to the Championship last season. The legal action lands during a turbulent period for the east London club, both on and off the pitch.