Thursday, April 24, 2025 - Eni Aluko has accused Arsenal legend Ian Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits in women's football.
The former British-Nigerian footballer, 38, took aim at
Wright who has been a major advocate of the women's game.
Speaking on Radio Four's Women's Hour, the
former England and Chelsea forward said: 'I’ve worked with Ian a long
time and, you know, I think he’s a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he’s
aware of just how much he’s doing in the women’s game. I think he should be
aware of that.
'The fact of the matter is, there is a limited amount of
spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in
the men’s game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women’s game,
it’s a free for all.
'But that’s not the case. I can’t dominate the men’s game in
the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.'
When asked to clarify if she thinks it is wrong for Wright,
61, to be a figure at the forefront of coverage of women's football, Aluko
added: 'I don’t know about wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and we
need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into
broadcasting in the women’s game.
'It’s still new, it’s still growing. There’s a finite number
of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that.
'Men need to be aware that, you know, you’re in a growing
sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven’t always had these
opportunities, and so it’s about the awareness and supporting other women
through that pathway.'
Wright launched a podcast alongside Steph Houghton last
year about the women's game and regularly speaks about it with Kelly Cates on
the BBC.
Wright has previously spoken out in support of female
pundits who have suffered abuse in the past, insisting they 'deserve' their
roles and saying he was 'embarrassed' about vitriol sent their way.
Aluko, along with Alex Scott and Karen Carney, is among
the female pundits to have been targeted.
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