Ian Wright responds to Eni Aluko after apology is rejected in women's football bust-up

Sunday World

27-04-2025

Eni Aluko and Ian Wright are football pundits (Adam Davy/Pedro Soares/PA)
Former England international Aluko apologised to fellow pundit Ian Wright after appearing to suggest his presence risked blocking opportunities for women.
Aluko told BBC Radio Four's Woman's Hour on Wednesday that Wright needed to be aware of the 'finite opportunities for women'.
Her comments have since come in for heavy criticism, and on Friday she issued an apology to Wright via her Instagram Story.
'Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant,' she wrote.
'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 Ian's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I've known and worked with Ian for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.'
Now Wright has taken to Instagram and he didn't try to hide his disappointment with Aluko in a passionate statement.
'I have to talk about this week and what's going on, I don't want to endlessly be asked about it,' Wright said.
'I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management.
"I've seen the apology on social media, but I can't accept it, but I also want to move on.
'For anyone watching this, I really don't need any further social commentary directed on any of this.
'The thing about where the women's game is, it isn't about me - it has to be about the collective.
'Because of the past, we know the men blocked the women's game for 50 years, because of the past we know the game has serious systemic challenges, and it's going to take everyone to help fixes.
'So for me, I always give back to the game, it's given me so much.
'It's never bothered me about who's playing the game, as long as they're playing the game. if you know my story you'll know how much football means to me.
'We are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, to lead the way in women's football
'We men are the ones that banned women's football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one. I need to say to everyone who has spoken about it publicly and showed love and support, I say thank you It's something I do not take for granted.'