Laura Woods defends broadcasters after Eni Aluko’s criticism
Laura Woods has responded vigorously to Eni Aluko’s criticism of broadcasters’ pundit selections for the Euro 2025 women’s final. Aluko, a former England international with 105 caps and 33 goals, expressed her frustration in a podcast that has widely circulated online, reports BritPanorama.
The ex-Chelsea forward questioned the decisions made by ITV and the BBC in choosing analysts, particularly spotlighting Ian Wright and Nedum Onuoha as selections she found questionable.
Woods countered Aluko’s views, emphasising that having international experience does not guarantee broadcasting opportunities. The presenter firmly rejected the notion that a distinguished playing career automatically qualifies one for a punditry role.
“Caps don’t win automatic work and they don’t make a brilliant pundit either,” Woods stated. She elaborated on the key traits that truly define remarkable analysts, pointing towards effective communication, audience engagement, and chemistry with colleagues as vital qualities.
Woods suggested that Aluko’s insistence on showcasing solely female voices in women’s football coverage is counterproductive. She remarked, “‘The women’s game should be by women for women’ is one of the most damaging phrases I’ve heard,” outlining how such views could regress the progress of women’s sport and punditry.
She argued that limiting coverage participation undermines efforts to expand the audience for women’s football, asserting, “If you want to grow something, you don’t gate keep it. We want to encourage little boys and men to watch women’s football too, not just little girls and women.” According to Woods, having respected figures like Ian Wright involved raises the profile of the sport among diverse audiences.
Moreover, Woods highlighted ITV’s recent success at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025 as a testament to their effective coverage of women’s football. She shared an image of the ITV team celebrating their achievement for best production during the tournament. “Here’s a picture of our team at ITV. We won best production at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025 for our coverage of the women’s euros,” she noted, defending the network’s approach.
As discussions about coverage in women’s football evolve, the dynamic between former players and broadcasters continues to be pivotal. Each perspective adds to the broader narrative of how the sport is represented on screen.
