Saturday, April 26, 2025 - Eni Aluko has apologised to Ian Wright after facing backlash for accusing the Arsenal legend of 'blocking' the pathway for female pundits by 'dominating' women's football coverage.
Aluko's claims on Wright were made during an appearance
on Radio Four's Women's Hour on Wednesday, in which she also claimed her
punditry career had been damaged by ex-Manchester City
midfielder Joey Barton, who she's suing for libel, after he dubbed her a
'race card player' on social media in January last year.
She had also said that ITV continuing to employ
Wright to cover the women's game hampered the chances of female pundits coming
into the industry.
Taking to Instagram on Friday morning, April
25, Aluko wrote: 'lan Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose
support for the women's game has been significant.
'In my interview with Woman's Hour this week, I was
trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in
football - whether that's in coaching, broadcasting, or commercial spaces - and
the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch.
'But it was wrong for lan's name to be raised in that
conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I've known and worked with
lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him'.
During her appearance on the Radio Four show, Aluko was
asked about the presence of male pundits within the women's game and,
specifically, Ian Wright.
Aluko, who won 105 England caps, had 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 number 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 to be covering 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.
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