Latest news with #ex-MatchoftheDay
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
ITV break silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko as broadcaster back star ‘beyond question'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ITV have broken their silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko. And the broadcaster threw their support behind the Arsenal legend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 ITV released a statement backing Ian Wright amid the row with Eni Aluko Credit: Alamy 2 Aluko apologised for her comments - but Wright did not accept it Credit: Getty Aluko accused Wright of "blocking" pathways for women in football punditry. The former Lioness apologised for her comments - but Wright refused to accept it. And now ITV - for whom both Wright and Aluko have worked as pundits - have issued a statement to stand by the ex-Match of the Day analyst. ITV said in a statement: "Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question. "As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions." The statement will put into doubt Aluko's future in punditry, especially with ITV with Wright a popular figure. The broadcaster hold exclusive live rights to England men's World Cup qualifiers in June. They also share the rights with the BBC for the European Women's Championship in Switzerland, where England will hope to retain their crown. Aluko sparked the row last week when she spoke about importance of making sure men were aware of the "finite amount of opportunities" for female pundits. She told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour: "I've worked with Ian a long time and 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. Roy Keane shakes head and gives brutal side-eye at Ian Wright's antics live on ITV during FA Cup coverage "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. "Men need to be aware that 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." Aluko, 38, did say sorry with a public apology to Wright amid a backlash and said she has "nothing but love and respect" for her colleague. But the former Gunners hero - who worked alongside Aluko at the 2022 World Cup - struggled to accept it. Wright, 61, acknowledged the negative role men have played in limiting the women's game in the past, and he said he does not take his role as a pundit for granted. He said: "I'm very disappointed by what Eni has said. "She knows how I have helped her and 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 from it. I don't need any further social commentary directed at anyone." Wright added: "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." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
ITV break silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko as broadcaster back star ‘beyond question'
ITV have broken their silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko. And the broadcaster threw their support behind the Arsenal legend. Advertisement 2 ITV released a statement backing Ian Wright amid the row with Eni Aluko Credit: Alamy 2 Aluko apologised for her comments - but Wright did not accept it Credit: Getty The former Lioness apologised for her comments - but And now ITV - for whom both Wright and Aluko have worked as pundits - have issued a statement to stand by the ex-Match of the Day analyst. ITV said in a statement: "Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL "As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions." The statement will put into doubt Aluko's future in punditry, especially with ITV with Wright a popular figure. The broadcaster hold exclusive live rights to They also share the rights with the BBC for the European Women's Championship in Switzerland, where England will hope to retain their crown. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive Aluko sparked the row last week when she spoke about importance of making sure men were aware of the "finite amount of opportunities" for female pundits. She told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour: "I've worked with Ian a long time and 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. Roy Keane shakes head and gives brutal side-eye at Ian Wright's antics live on ITV during FA Cup coverage "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. Advertisement "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. "Men need to be aware that 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." But the former Gunners hero - who worked alongside Aluko at the 2022 World Cup - struggled to accept it. Advertisement Wright, 61, acknowledged the negative role men have played in limiting the women's game in the past, and he said he does not take his role as a pundit for granted. He said: "I'm very disappointed by what Eni has said. "She knows how I have helped her and 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 from it. I don't need any further social commentary directed at anyone." Advertisement Wright added: "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. Advertisement "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." Advertisement THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
ITV break silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko as broadcaster back star ‘beyond question'
ITV have broken their silence on Ian Wright's row with Eni Aluko. And the broadcaster threw their support behind the Arsenal legend. 2 Aluko accused Wright of "blocking" pathways for women in football punditry. The former Lioness apologised for her comments - but Wright refused to accept it. And now ITV - for whom both Wright and Aluko have worked as pundits - have issued a statement to stand by the ex-Match of the Day analyst. ITV said in a statement: "Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question. "As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions." The statement will put in doubt Aluko's future in punditry, especially with ITV with Wright a popular figure. The broadcaster hold exclusive live rights to England men's World Cup qualifiers in June. They also share the rights with the BBC for the European Women's Championship in Switzerland, where England will hope to retain their crown. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arne Slot warned of next season problem by Liverpool legend
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has warned Reds head coach Arne Slot that next season will prove "tougher" in the Premier League - as the Anfield boss closes in on a historic title triumph. The Merseysiders currently sit 12 points clear at the summit, with nine games left of the campaign in the Dutchman's first term in the hotseat. Despite recent wounding losses against PSG and Newcastle in the Champions League and League Cup, respectively, Slot stands on the brink of a landmark achievement. Amid the prospect of landing what would be the club's second league crown in 35 years, the Dutchman is well-placed to secure legend status on the Kop - less than a year after succeeding Jurgen Klopp. However, ex-Match of the Day pundit Lawrenson has predicted that next season could prove to be significantly more tasking for the former Feyenoord boss. READ MORE: Peter Crouch gives honest Arne Slot verdict after PSG and Newcastle defeats READ MORE: How to watch Liverpool Legends vs Chelsea for free as Steven Gerrard returns for charity game With uncertainty still surrounding the futures of key men Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it remains to be seen how Liverpool may line-up heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Moreover, Lawrenson - who won five championships at Anfield - has asserted that the Reds will become the team to beat next year if they do lift the title this campaign. He exclusively told "It's tougher, the next year's tougher because team's want to beat you straight away. The way the league is at the moment, if you take away the bottom three and think about the remaining 17, all these teams from 16th to 8th all get a great big load of money again [in summer]. They get better players and it's more difficult for the teams at the top to roll them over. "But if you win it once, and we've not won it by default, we've won it because we've got the best team, it all depends on what team we have next season. City will come back, there's no doubt about that, obviously Arsenal," he warned. "If we're still messing around trying to get players in by the end of first transfer deadline, we might end up a few points behind. The European Cup winner added: "I would say this is the biggest season for Liverpool in a long time. We will win the league, there's no doubt whatsoever - but then it's like 'wow'. Everyone uses the phrase 'we've got to go again' in terms of the players but the whole club has got to go again." Regardless of the situation regarding whether Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold will be at Anfield in August, Lawrenson also contends that the Reds will require fresh reinforcements in the summer. He asserted: "We need another center-back and obviously we'll need another right back, I would have thought. We probably need another left back. Apart from that, obviously the strikers. "So you're probably talking - in an ideal world - five new players. I mean, that can be offset by sales but I think that the last couple of months we've been looking at it saying 'do you think his legs have gone? Do you think this guy's good enough to come in and play semi-regularly? Are we strong enough at the back?' All of those things." The pundit added: "So it's gone from it looking like a fantastic job to have for Arne Slot to 'show us what you're made of this summer'. I mean, I don't think he'll be going on a summer holiday will he?"
