London Stadium warns David Sullivan to stay away amid fears of West Ham fan protests and disorder

Former West Ham chairman David Sullivan has been advised not to attend matches at the London Stadium ahead of the new season.

The recommendation comes amid concerns over potential fan protests and anti-social behaviour following his departure from the club's leadership.

Former West Ham chairman warned not to attend London Stadium matches

According to the Telegraph, Sullivan has been advised by London Stadium operators to stay away from West Ham home matches because of fears his presence could trigger ‘demonstrations and anti-social behaviour' among supporters.

The recommendation comes just weeks before the Hammers begin life back in the Championship, with a home Carabao Cup tie against Portsmouth set to kick off the new campaign.

In a statement, London Stadium confirmed it did not believe Sullivan posed an ongoing safeguarding risk by attending matches. However, officials said they had recommended he avoid fixtures because of the “potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators”.

It is understood Sullivan intends to ignore that advice and continue attending matches, with West Ham expected to work alongside stadium operators to facilitate his visits.

The former joint chairman stepped down from his role earlier this summer following allegations made by seven women in a joint BBC Panorama and The Times investigation. Sullivan has strongly denied all allegations and insists they are “factually incorrect and entirely false”.

Despite relinquishing his role as chairman, Sullivan remains West Ham's largest shareholder. However, the club's ownership structure is set to change following Amanda Staveley's consortium agreeing a deal to purchase a 25.1% stake from Vanessa Gold.

The warning also comes after several years of supporter protests against the club's ownership outside the London Stadium, with tensions between sections of the fanbase and the board having intensified before the club's relegation from the Premier League.

FGG says: London Stadium must balance supporter safety amid Sullivan concerns

Supporter protests are part of the game, but crowd safety must always come first.

If Sullivan appears at the London Stadium this season, both the club and venue will need to balance fans’ right to express their frustrations with the responsibility to prevent any flashpoints that could affect the matchday environment.