The recommendation from London Stadium comes after a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times revealed that seven women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. He has categorically denied the allegations.
He stood down as joint chairman of the club shortly before the investigation was broadcast, saying he wanted to focus on fighting what he called “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life”. He remains the club’s largest shareholder.
The investigation also revealed that Sullivan has been banned from contact with West Ham’s women’s and youth teams for three years due to safeguarding concerns. London Stadium were unaware of the restrictions until the BBC’s report.
Sullivan was banned after a historic allegation about his conduct was raised with the Football Association in 2023. He has previously said the allegation was false and that because he had never met any academy or women’s team players “1-2-1” during his 16 years at the club, he accepted what he saw as a “meaningless restriction…for a quiet life”.
West Ham were relegated from the Premier League in May and are due to play their first home game of the new season, a Carabao Cup match against Portsmouth, on Saturday.
A spokesperson for London Stadium, the operator of the publicly owned venue, said that “following media reports at the end of the season regarding a safeguarding matter being managed by the club, London Stadium sought further information to ensure it could fulfil its own safeguarding responsibilities”.
It said that West Ham had told it that the “matter was investigated and that the club does not consider there to be an ongoing safeguarding risk associated with Mr Sullivan attending the stadium”.
However it said that, despite this, it had recommended the businessman stay away from games because of the “potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators”.
West Ham declined to comment. It is understood that the club intends to work with the stadium operators to facilitate Sullivan’s attendance at games.
Mr Sullivan has not responded to a request for comment.
>
Serena and Venus Williams have been given a wildcard entry for the women’s doubles at the Cincinnati Open.
The sisters were scheduled to play together at Wimbledon in July until Serena, 44, picked up a knee injury in her singles comeback loss to Australia’s Maya Joint.
The WTA 1000 event which runs from 11-23 August in Ohio will be the first time the siblings have played doubles together since the 2022 US Open.
It could also pave the way for Serena to return to play in the US Open this year.
Her third-round loss at New York’s Flushing Meadows four years ago had been her last appearance at a Grand Slam until she featured at the All England Club this summer.
She is currently one short of the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, jointly held by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic.
Together, Venus and Serena have won 14 major titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles.
Venus, 46, has also received a wildcard into the singles draw of the tournament in Cincinnati.
>
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers practice Monday ended in the same fashion as one from last week: With Bryce Young connecting with Tetairoa McMillan on a touchdown pass on the day’s final play.
Young has had a terrific start to training camp as the No. 1 pick from 2023 prepares for his fourth season, an important one for him and the organization following the Panthers’ NFC South title last year.
Brandt Tilis won’t discuss possible extension with Bryce Young. Says he’s still ascending with an “unknown ceiling.” He explains. pic.twitter.com/buWBBtOwbx
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 3, 2026
The Panthers, according to league sources familiar with the situation but not permitted to speak about it publicly, are expected to let Young play out this season before considering a contract extension for a player who took a step forward in his development in 2025.
Executive vice president of football operations, Brandt Tilis, who spearheads the team’s salary cap and contracts said Monday he wouldn’t discuss a possible extension with Young (or other players), but he expressed confidence in the QB’s ability to continue his upward trend.
“I would say he ascended last year and there’s still room for him to ascend,” said Tilis, who was with Kansas City in 2020 when the Chiefs negotiated an unprecedented 10-year deal with Patrick Mahomes. “His ceiling currently is unknown, and I think that’s exciting for us. And he’s working hard to get himself there.”
In answering a question about whether the Panthers have surrounded Young with enough talent, Tilis might have let the team’s plans for their quarterback slip.
“The team is better. The coaches are good, and Bryce is putting in the work, too. So it’s all there. We’ll just see how the year plays out,” Tilis said. “I think we’re all really excited for what Bryce is gonna show and how the team’s gonna be.”
When asked about his comment about his “see how the year plays out” comment, Tilis reiterated he was keeping all contract-related discussions in-house.
The Panthers have picked up Young’s fifth-year option for 2027, worth an estimated $25.9 million, according to Over the Cap. Young is coming off a season in which he set career highs in every major passing category and helped the Panthers snap a seven-year playoff drought.
But Young was still prone to stretches of inconsistency, and he’ll start the season without Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, the Panthers’ starting offensive tackles since 2022.
Young will watch Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game in Canton from the sideline. Panthers coach Dave Canales said veteran Kenny Pickett will start against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL’s first exhibition game. Pickett, entering his fifth season, signed a one-year deal with Carolina in March.
“A veteran player, so he knows how to work. He knows how to study and prepare,” Canales said of Pickett. “He comes out, and all the checks are right, getting the protections the way you want. And then on top of that, just every day there seems to be some special throw down the field. He’s got that in his bag.”
Canales said no starters will play Thursday in a preseason game that falls two days before franchise icon Luke Kuechly’s enshrinement in Canton.
>
Liam Hicks will be heading across the state of Florida to join the Rays. Rich Storry/Getty Images
The Miami Marlins agreed to trade catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal in not yet official told The Athletic. Double-A infielder Brayden Taylor is one of the players headed back to Miami in the deal.
This story will be updated.
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle
>
Search For Canadian TV Actor Stewart McLean Now Homicide Investigation
These ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
According to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
Model Jocelyn Chew’s Instagram is the best vacation you’ve ever had
Your comprehensive guide to this fall’s biggest trends
9 Celebrities who have spoken out about being photoshopped
Emily Ratajkowski channels back-to-school style
A photo diary of the nightlife scene from LA To Ibiza
