Punditry Row Reignites: Eni Aluko Slams Ian Wright Over Broadcasting Opportunities
Eni Aluko has reignited a public dispute with football legend Ian Wright, alleging that her career opportunities as a pundit have been hindered by his continued presence in broadcasting. The former England international claims that despite offering an apology for suggesting Wright’s involvement in women’s football broadcasting was making it harder for female pundits, she has since struggled to secure broadcast roles alongside him.
The controversy first surfaced last April when Aluko publicly stated that Wright’s prominent role in broadcasting, particularly concerning the women’s game, was creating a challenging environment for women aspiring to enter the field. Speaking on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour, she articulated her concerns: “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. 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.”
Following these remarks, Aluko issued a public apology to Wright. However, Wright publicly declined to accept it, and Aluko later revealed she had attempted to apologise privately, admitting her initial comments were a “mistake.”
More than nine months after the initial fallout, Aluko has taken to Instagram to express her ongoing frustration. She claims that Wright’s name continues to be “weaponised” against her by others, and she has criticised the former striker for his handling of the aftermath.
“The reality is we had an opportunity nine months ago to quieten this, to have an adult conversation and talk about our different perspectives,” Aluko stated in a video post. She continued, “When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately he had an opportunity to show the grace and the allyship that he showed to many other people. And to prove that he’s the ally that everybody says he is. Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect.”
Aluko further alleged that Wright’s refusal to accept her apology led to her facing significant public backlash. In a subsequent video, she claimed that she has not been offered any broadcasting work alongside Wright since their public disagreement.
“I’ve always been the person who ignores, whether I like that person or not, and you work together and move on,” Aluko commented. She reiterated her openness to a conversation with Wright: “I’m putting it out there that I’m more than open to a conversation with Ian Wright. I’ve said my piece. I’ve given more context. I’ve been quiet for a very long time. The public will have their own views and opinions, the media will have their own views and opinions. I don’t live for that validation, anyway. So, (I’m) open to a conversation and if it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen, life moves on.”
Representatives for Ian Wright have been contacted for comment regarding these latest statements.
Despite the controversy, Aluko was included in ITV’s punditry team for the Women’s Euros last summer, which saw England emerge victorious. While Wright was not part of ITV’s initial line-up for the tournament, he did feature as a pundit for the semi-finals and the final.
Speaking on the 90s Baby Show podcast, Aluko also voiced her frustration regarding the presence of male pundits, including Wright and Nedum Onuoha, in broadcasting coverage of major finals. She highlighted the imbalance of opportunities for women with extensive playing experience.
The Punditry Imbalance: A Call for More Female Voices
Aluko detailed her experience at the Women’s Lionesses final: “Last year at the Women’s Lionesses final, I’m sat in the stands, I wasn’t on it for ITV for the final. Farah Williams was next to me. Farah Williams has 170 caps for England.”
She continued to express her dismay at the composition of the punditry panels for the final, broadcast by both ITV and the BBC: “The two broadcasters that had the rights, ITV, BBC. On BBC, you’ve got Ellen White, Steph Houghton and Nedum Onuoha. No offence to Nedum Onouha, nothing against him, I don’t know whether he played for England or not. You’re on the main panel for the final for England Women. Let’s go over to ITV, I’m in the stands with 105 caps, so you have got two women with 290 caps, something ridiculous right. Right ITV, it’s Ian Wright, Emma Hayes and Kaz Carney. So out of six spots, two have gone to men, meanwhile you have got 290 (caps) sitting in the stands.”
Aluko underscored the disparity: “I have never done a final and I am probably going to struggle to think of any woman, female pundit, who has done a men’s major final. I am talking about as a pundit, so something is not right there. Why are people like me and Faz (Fara) not there. It is nothing against Ian and nothing against them, I am just saying broadly speaking we need to be aware of that.”
The BBC’s line-up for the final featured Ellen White, England women’s record goalscorer and a Euro 2022 winner, alongside former England captain Steph Houghton. On the ITV side, alongside Wright and Emma Hayes, was Karen Carney, who amassed 144 caps for England during her illustrious career. Hayes, a highly respected coach and former Chelsea manager, has become a regular pundit for major international tournaments.
Aluko argued for a more deliberate effort to “gatekeep the women’s game in the same way the men’s game is gatekept.” She explained that many individuals, herself included, have worked hard to lay the groundwork for the growth of women’s football.
“From my perspective we didn’t go through all of that blood, sweat and tears for women to now be second place in our own sport. What are we doing?” Aluko questioned. She firmly believes that “The women’s game should be by women, for women. Male allies should absolutely support that, but when it gets to the point where you are the main character of the show, we are just repeating the patriarchal stuff we have been fighting against. Whoever that upsets, that upsets. I have always been protective about women’s football. I was doing women’s football when it didn’t pay to do women’s football. Now we are reaping the rewards, I am like, women should be winning right now.”
While acknowledging that male football experts should ideally have precedence in covering men’s finals, Aluko stated that she has not been offered a pundit role for a major men’s final in her 11 years of broadcasting. She expressed her belief that female pundits are currently “stuck” with opportunities in the women’s game being taken by men, while simultaneously being excluded from opportunities in the men’s game. “I can never do the men’s final,” she asserted. “The only way I have an opportunity to do a final is the women’s final and now I can’t do the women’s final.”
Aluko maintained that her criticism was not specifically aimed at Ian Wright but rather at a broader issue within sports broadcasting. She argued that her representation holds significant value for young girls aspiring to careers in football and broadcasting, stating, “What I represent for young girls who want to be footballers, who want to be broadcasters, is way more than Ian Wright represents. Again, I am not knocking Ian Wright, it is not even about him, it could be any man. It is really important that we keep an eye on premium opportunities. The issue I have with Ian is that in his position, he needs to clock what I am saying.”
Following Aluko’s comments, Karen Carney was part of TNT Sport’s punditry line-up for the men’s Champions League final last year, alongside prominent figures like Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.
Clips of Aluko’s statements have circulated on social media, drawing criticism from figures such as broadcaster Piers Morgan. Morgan responded to her remarks by stating, “Insufferable. If she was ten times as talented as she thinks she is, she’d still be nowhere near the talent of Ian Wright – on or off the pitch.”
This latest public exchange follows a period of difficulty for Aluko in November, when she claimed her punditry work had diminished following social media attacks by Joey Barton. Barton had received a suspended prison sentence for sending “grossly offensive” messages to Aluko, fellow pundit Lucy Ward, and broadcaster Jeremy Vine. In a particularly egregious post after an FA Cup tie, Barton compared Ward and Aluko to serial murderers Fred and Rose West, even superimposing their faces onto a photograph of the notorious couple.
Aluko, 38, had previously stated her intention to pursue more broadcasting opportunities outside the UK, expressing fears for her safety as a consequence of Barton’s posts. Barton, meanwhile, announced his intention to appeal his conviction, citing the defence of “free expression.”
