Eni Aluko publicly stated that Ian Wright, a prominent football pundit and supporter of women’s football, needed to be aware of how his strong presence in the women’s game could unintentionally block opportunities for female pundits. On BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Aluko suggested there were limited spaces for women in football broadcasting and used Wright as an example of a high-profile male figure who might be “dominating” the women’s game in the media.
This sparked considerable backlash, as many felt Wright was a strong ally to women’s football and not an appropriate target for such criticism. Following this, Aluko issued a public apology, clarifying that her broader point was about the limited opportunities for women, not a personal attack on Wright, and acknowledged his significant contributions as a broadcaster and role model in the women’s game. She stated, “It was wrong for Ian’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I’ve known and worked with him for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him”. Despite her apology, Ian Wright publicly expressed disappointment and said he could not accept her apology, though he wished to move on from the issue.
