Eni Aluko reignites dispute with Ian Wright over broadcasting opportunities
Eni Aluko has reopened her public dispute with Ian Wright, asserting that she has received no broadcasting work alongside the former Arsenal striker since he declined to accept her apology nine months ago, reports BritPanorama.
The former England international initially stirred controversy last April when she suggested on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour that Wright’s prominent role in women’s football coverage was creating barriers for female pundits seeking opportunities.
“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,” Aluko stated at the time.
Following various public and private apologies that Wright refused to accept, Aluko has taken to Instagram to assert that his name continues to be “weaponised” against her. “Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect,” she lamented.
Reflecting on last summer’s Women’s Euros final, Aluko expressed frustration at watching from the stands despite her significant experience, sharing that she was not included in the ITV lineup. “Last year at the Women’s Lionesses final, I’m sat in the stands, I wasn’t on it for ITV for the final,” she remarked on the 90s Baby Show podcast.
She highlighted that the BBC’s panel featured Ellen White, Steph Houghton, and Nedum Onuoha, while ITV opted for Wright, Emma Hayes, and Karen Carney. “So out of six spots, two have gone to men, meanwhile you have got 290 (caps) sitting in the stands,” she observed.
Aluko questioned why highly capped female players were consistently overlooked for such high-profile broadcasting roles. She argued that women’s football broadcasting should be safeguarded in the same manner as men’s, insisting that female pioneers deserve to benefit from the sport’s growth. “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?” she stated.
“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,” she added.
Despite the ongoing disputes, Aluko remains open to dialogue with Wright, breaking her silence after months of relative quiet on the subject. “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,” she explained, adding that whether such a discussion occurs or not, life will go on. “If it doesn’t happen, life moves on.”
Aluko, who earned 105 caps for England, emphasised the significance of her role as a model for young female footballers and broadcasters, asserting, “What I represent for young girls who want to be footballers, who want to be broadcasters, is way more than Ian Wright represents,” indicating that her concerns extend beyond Wright personally to any man in leading women’s football broadcasting roles. Wright has yet to respond to her remarks.
As the debate over gender representation in broadcasting heats up, Aluko’s perspective serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equity in sport. The discussion spotlights how opportunities are still shaped by legacy and visibility, underscoring the significance of not just participation but representation as well.
