Latest news with #EniAluko
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ian Wright declares 'I had to be here' as he makes ITV return for Lionesses Euro semi-final in his first women's game since Eni Aluko accused him of 'blocking' female pundits
Ian Wright issues a defiant statement as he made his return to Lioness punditry duty for their Euro semi-final against Italy following his heated row with Eni Aluko The Arsenal legend was not included in ITV 's original tournament coverage but took his place on the line-up set to be part of the broadcaster's punditry team on Tuesday night. The 61-year-old was be joined by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England star Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods as England prepared to take on Italy at the Stade de Geneve in a bid to reach a second consecutive Euro final. Despite not being involved in the tournament's coverage initially, Wright, a long-time supporter of the women's game, has covered Euro 2025 alongside ex-England captain Steph Houghton on his Crossways podcast. His involvement in the semi-final was the first time he has appeared as a pundit for the Lionesses since Eni Aluko accused him of 'blocking' opportunities for female presenters. But Wright is now back covering the England women's team, and made it clear he was always going to be. 'I was in the middle of the Asian see, taking it easy,' Wright began with a beaming smith across his face. 'Then England stumbled into the semis. 'I had to be here, I'm not missing England at this stage of the competition.' Presenter Laura Woods had initially said: 'I'm rather delighted to have our old friend Ian Wright back in the fold. A special man for a special occasion.' In April, Aluko said Wright needed to be aware of 'how much he's doing in the women's game,' and that his presence has made it tougher for female pundits trying to find a spot in the industry. '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,' she told Radio Four's Women's Hour at the time. '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, who made 105 appearances for the Lionesses in a 12-year international career, later apologised to Wright. But the former Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker said he couldn't accept her apology. '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,' he said. Last week, Aluko admitted she was wrong to suggest Wright has blocked opportunities for female pundits and that she respects his decision to refuse her public apology, while insisting she made efforts to make peace with him in private. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, she said: 'I think I could have done better in responding to the question I was asked, and just keeping it as a general issue. 'I've always been the person, to be honest, to hold my hands up and say: "Listen, I got that one wrong. That was, that was a mistake." If I had been on the other end, I would probably have felt the same. 'Apologies are acts of respect. Apologies are a show of humility. I did a lot to try to apologise to Ian privately. So when you're seeing a public apology, it's actually the last resort. But it was a public forum that I spoke about him on, and I felt a public apology was important. 'I respect that,' she said regarding his refusal to accept her apology. 'I respect how he feels. It's really about my apology. That's all I can do. Then, whenever the person's ready to have a conversation, I'm ready to have a conversation. But I respect if it's not the right time, I totally respect that.' In her Women's Hour interview in April, Aluko also said: 'The fact of the matter is, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all. 'But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.' When asked to clarify if she thinks it is wrong for Wright, 61, to be a figure at the forefront of coverage of women's football, Aluko added: 'I don't know about wrong, but I think 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. 'It's still new, it's still growing. There's a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that. 'Men need to be aware that, you know, you're in a growing sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven't always had these opportunities, and so it's about the awareness and supporting other women through that pathway.'
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Ian Wright returns to ITV to cover Lionesses for first time since Eni Aluko row as she leaves role
IAN WRIGHT is returning to ITV to cover England women for the first time since his row with Eni Aluko. The Arsenal legend will be back on screens for the Lionesses' Euros semi showdown against Italy tonight. 1 Wright is yet to appear on TV during the tournament. But after England booked their place in the last four with a dramatic quarter-final win over Sweden on penalties, Wright has been drafted in by ITV chiefs. The Telegraph claims he will join Emma Hayes, Karen Carney and Laura Woods on the ground in Switzerland. And it will mark Wright's first England appearance since he was criticised by former footballer Aluko, who claimed he was blocking opportunities for women on TV. Her comments caused outrage, especially given that Wright has long been a vocal supporter of women's football. Aluko has since apologised, although it was not accepted by Wright. And while he will be on the box this evening, it's also reported that Aluko's time as a pundit with ITV has come to an end. She featured in several matches earlier in the tournament, with none of them involving England. But Aluko's role with ITV for their Euros coverage is over and she will not feature in any of the semi-final clashes, or the final itself. Earlier this month, she admitted she was 'wrong' over her comments about Wright. Quick-witted Roy Keane makes brutal three-word joke about Eni Aluko row that leaves Ian Wright in stitches Aluko also said she 'respects' his decision to not accept her apology. She said: "I think I could have done better in responding to the question I was asked, and just keeping it as a general issue. "I've always been the person, to be honest, to hold my hands up and say: 'Listen, I got that one wrong. That was, that was a mistake'. If I had been on the other end, I would probably have felt the same. "Apologies are acts of respect. Apologies are a show of humility. I did a lot to try to apologise to Ian privately. "So when you're seeing a public apology, it's actually the last resort. But it was a public forum that I spoke about him on, and I felt a public apology was important. "I respect that [Wright's refusal to accept her apology]. I respect how he feels. It's really about my apology. That's all I can do. "Then, whenever the person's ready to have a conversation, I'm ready to have a conversation. But I respect if it's not the right time, I totally respect that.'
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Ian Wright 'to make ITV comeback' for Lionesses Euro semi-final against Italy tonight in his first women's game since Eni Aluko row
Ian Wright will make his return to women's football punditry in the Lionesses Euro semi-final against Italy following his heated row with Eni Aluko The Arsenal legend was not included in ITV 's original tournament coverage but is set to be part of the broadcaster's punditry team on Tuesday night The 61-year-old will be joined by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England star Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods as England face Italy at the Stade de Geneve as they bid to reach a second consecutive Euro final. Despite not being involved in the tournament's coverage initially, Wright, a long-time supporter of the women's game, has covered Euro 2025 alongside ex-England captain Steph Houghton on his Crossways podcast. His involvement in the semi-final will mark the first time he has appeared as a pundit for the Lionesses since Eni Aluko accused him of 'blocking' opportunities for female presenters. Former England star Eni Aluko accused Wright of 'blocking opportunities' for female pundits More to follow.
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ian Wright to make Lionesses' ITV return after Eni Aluko row
Ian Wright will be part of ITV's coverage of the Lionesses semi-final against Italy on Tuesday evening in his first appearance on television covering England women following his row with Eni Aluko. Wright, 61, was not originally part of the broadcaster's punditry line-up but had been covering the tournament on his Crossways podcast with former England captain Steph Houghton. He will now make up ITV's team on the ground in Switzerland and is expected to be joined by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England forward Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods. This was also the case when he joined the broadcaster's line-up from the semi-final stage during the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, having covered that tournament on his own platforms before ITV's team flew out. It will be the first time Wright has appeared as a pundit on a Lionesses game for ITV since Eni Aluko claimed he was blocking opportunities for women and dominating punditry in football. Aluko, 38, said during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in April that Wright should be aware of 'how much he's doing in the women's game' and suggested his presence on punditry hampered the chances of female pundits trying to break into the industry. She later issued an apology on social media, which Wright refused to accept. In June, ITV announced Aluko would be part of their punditry team for the Euros and she made her first appearance on television since the fall-out with Wright during the group stages. She has not featured during any England games and has finished her role with ITV for this tournament. Responding to Aluko's public apology in April, Wright said on Instagram: '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.' In the video, Wright also thanked Kayleigh McDonald, the former Stoke City player who told Telegraph Sport how he had been paying for her rehab, which costs £1,700 per month, for an anterior cruciate ligament injury since the start of the year. 'I wouldn't be in a great place mentally if it wasn't for Ian Wright,' McDonald said. 'I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn't for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn't know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.'
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
BBC & ITV's women's Euros coverage is woke & dull but one dumb decision shows how hypocritical they really are
BLANKET coverage of the women's Euros has arrived with all the flair of your last tax return and a level of woke hypocrisy so extreme it could make Joey Barton's brain explode into half a dozen tiny pieces. For the secret rules of sports broadcasting clearly now state the following. 5 In the name of diversity, equality and all that is progressive, you must have as many women as possible on any panel of experts discussing men's football. However . . . In the name of diversity, equality and all that is progressive, you must also have as few men as possible on any panel of experts discussing women's football. And preferably no white ones. Given these outrageous double standards, I wasn't exactly surprised when ITV and the BBC released their studio line-ups, before the tournament began, and revealed (one Nathan Blake cameo aside) the only bloke who'd be allowed to show his face on screen was the Beeb's Nedum Onuoha. What did genuinely shock me, however, was that ITV had found room for the bland Eni Aluko, following her shameful attack on Ian Wright, who she accused of 'blocking' opportunities for women, but had ditched Wrighty, one of the media's most passionate advocates for women's football. I'd be angry on his behalf, but early signs suggest he's the one who dodged a bullet in Switzerland. Because, Spain and France aside, the football has been wretched and the coverage so grindingly dull you shouldn't attempt to watch it unless you have a coping strategy or the same strength of character as ITV host Laura Woods, who fixed her rictus grin in place, day one, and said: 'We're very excited by this one. Finland versus Iceland.' Likewise, it's not a spontaneous expression of love for the beautiful game that has the poor fans averaging 4.37 Mexican waves per match, it's the lack of any alternative entertainment. Grindingly dull I've also an element of sympathy for the normally ebullient BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce who's had to lose himself in the stunning Alpine scenery and pub- emptying trivia for long periods of play. 'Caroline Graham Hansen is famous in Norway, but not as famous as her dog,' said Jonathan during one particularly bleak phase of the Finland game. 'She has a cockapoo with 34 million TikTok likes,' he added, before deciding silence was the better option. I say 'sympathy' here because, just like war, the first casualty of women's football is the truth. The new Lionesses set to make their mark at the Women's Euro's as England kick off their title defence against France Unlike the men's game, where it's compulsory, commentators and pundits must not utter a single word that could be interpreted as scorn or even light mockery, which means you start having to provide your own translation service. 'That touch was a bit heavy.' (She just trod on the ball, mate.) 'A little bit of an error from Anna, in goal.' (Anna nearly booted herself in the head taking an air swipe at a back pass.) 'That was quite the attempt on goal.' (F*** me, it nearly landed in the next canton.) If they think they're fooling anyone here, they're not. 5 5 All this Stalinist approach actually does is betray the broadcasters' patronising lack of faith in the product. Even if there was a sudden outburst of honesty in Switzerland, however, there would still be a basic lack of journalism from both channels, as was demonstrated on Sunday when I waited to hear the BBC and ITV panels discuss the breaking news injured German superstar Giulia Gwinn would play no further part in the tournament. And waited . . . and waited. But it never came. An omission that told me, with Germany potentially playing England in the quarter-finals, the production teams aren't half as enchanted by women's football as the presenters would like you to believe. Still, as we saw from Lucy Ward and Katie Shanahan's pre-match banter before England lost to France, there is one area of the women's Euros that can match the men's game: The noble art of getting ahead of yourself. 'The French just wilt under a little bit of pressure.' 'Will England win tonight then?' 'Yes, yes . . . draw. (winks to camera) Win win win.' But, hey, at least it wasn't two men talking absolute bollocks. BONO IN FLAP AT LIVE AID 5 THE first two episodes of BBC2's hugely entertaining mini-series Live Aid At 40 were a stark reminder that lots of the musicians still miss the point about rock 'n' roll's most famous gig. None of them did it quite so pretentiously as Bono, though, who claimed a spiritual kinship with Ethiopians, on account of the Irish potato famine, but was reluctant to watch the concert footage because, back in 1985, he was having 'a bad hair day' and struggling with a mullet which flapped around like one of the mudguards on an Eddie Stobart wagon. U2's frontman was also seen muttering darkly about 'colonialism and slavery' at the start of the documentary. A train of thought not even the Beeb was shameless enough to indulge for the simple reason Ethiopia has never been colonised. Back in the 1980s, however, under the brutal left-wing dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam, it was infected by Soviet-backed Marxism which, as it always does, turned a drought into a global catastrophe and hundreds of thousands of its own citizens into dust. Nowadays, of course, the BBC and other woke apologists would probably blame all of this evil on 'the West' and Israel. In those happy, less self-loathing times, though, Band Aid had the great good fortune to be led by Bob Geldof, who wasn't just smarter than everyone else, he was more courageous as well, offering the most satisfying response imaginable when Mengistu tried to tap him for £1 million at their first meeting. 'I walked up to him, very sharply and just said, 'I think you're a c***'.' Random TV irritations ITV'S women's Euros coverage narrowing the gap between advert breaks to an astonishing 32 seconds, on Monday. Fred Sirieix's ego trampling all over the new First Dates. Any Love Island scene accompanied by the subtitle 'squelching'. Martin Lewis clearly imagining he's so wonderful he can just present GMB in a white T-shirt. And ITV's woeful Transaction leaving me with nothing more than the forlorn hope television executives might one day return to commissioning sitcoms by people who are actually funny, rather than people they would just like to be funny. Lookalike of the week 5 Sent in Peter Campbell, Leeds. TV gold BOB GELDOF always remaining the most impressive human being in the room on BBC2's Live Aid At 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On The World. BBC4's hugely uplifting Storyville: Inside The San Quentin Prison Marathon, a documentary with the undeniable air of The Shawshank Redemption. Channel 4's 24 Hours in Police Custody (Nightclub Predator) detailing the decline of humanity in its usual unforgiving fashion. And Susanna Reid's eyebrows shooting through the lighting gantry when Richard Madeley told Stephen Morgan, MP, the Under-Secretary of State for Early Education: 'The fact of the matter is, just over a year in, this government is in a tungsten jockstrap, isn't it?' On that bombshell . . . Great sporting insights DAVID CROFT: 'Verstappen in sixth, overtakes Stroll and moves into tenth.' Jermain Defoe: 'Elliot is a goal scorer, which means he scores goals.' Sorba Thomas: 'Even though we lost the game, I think we won it.' (Compiled by Graham Wray) lTV hero of the week? BBC Breakfast's Charlie Stayt, who listened with mounting impatience to the insufferable Steve Coogan, hijack an item about the Cooperative Congress, with his own hectoring brand of left-wing student politics, until the host could take no more and decided to short-circuit the interview by asking the comedian if he thought anyone at the event would: 'Get you to say 'a-ha'?' A question that went down as badly as you'd expect. But it didn't half shut him up and I could've hugged Charlie. GREAT TV lies and delusions of the week. Celebrity Gogglebox, Alison Hammond watching footage of Rod Stewart at Glastonbury: 'Hey, I could be there on someone's shoulders, swaying.' Which reminds me, at Christmas, Channel 5 has just confirmed it will be broadcasting all heats and the final of World's Strongest Man. LOVE Island, Friday, Helena: 'I think me and Harry have got something that's quite rare, but I don't know what it is . . .' Scabies? CHANNEL 5, Sunday, 9pm: Insomnia. Channel 5, Sunday, 9.07pm: Insomnia cured.
