AdminDavid Sullivan is reportedly on the brink of launching a High Court libel action against the BBC, with the West Ham United co-owner said to be seeking aggravated damages over the broadcaster’s documentary, Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss.
Almost three months after the programme was aired, Sullivan is understood to be preparing legal proceedings against the BBC.
The potential claim centres on allegations and material presented in the documentary, which examined his involvement in football and his position as one of West Ham’s owners.
The prospect of a High Court case would represent a significant escalation following the broadcast of the programme.
Sullivan’s reported decision to pursue a libel claim comes after a considerable period since the documentary first appeared on BBC screens.
A libel case would require the claims at the centre of any legal action to be considered through the courts, with the BBC potentially required to defend the programme and the reporting contained within it.
At this stage, the reported proceedings remain at the point of preparation, with Sullivan said to be close to lodging the claim.
The development could now lead to a closely watched legal dispute involving one of English football’s most prominent club owners and a major national broadcaster, although the precise allegations forming the basis of the proposed action have yet to be established in court.
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