Ian Wright refuses to accept Eni Aluko apology after being accused of ‘blocking’ female pundits
Eni Aluko accused Ian Wright of ‘blocking’ opportunities for female pundits in women’s football (Getty) Ian Wright says he ‘can’t accept’ Eni Aluko’s apology after she suggested that the former Arsenal and England striker was ‘blocking’ opportunities for female broadcasters in women’s football. During an interview with BBC’s Woman’s Hour this week, Aluko described Wright as ‘dominating’ the broadcasting side of women’s football and said the 61-year-old needed to ‘be aware’ of taking up a position which could be filled by a female pundit. ‘What we don’t want is a repeat dominance of men in the women’s game, as broadcasters, as coaches, earning more money than women when we can’t do the same in the men’s game,’ Aluko said. ‘I would never, ever be able to usurp Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, these are guys who have done it for a long time, they are brilliant broadcasters, they rightly dominate their sport. I think the same should apply in the women’s game. ‘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. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. ‘The fact of the matter is, as I said, 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. Eni Aluko says Ian Wright needed to ‘be aware’ of the amount of work he was taking in women’s football (Getty) ‘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, Ian is dominating the women’s game.’ Aluko’s comments about Wright attracted criticism as he has been a major advocate of the women’s game for several years. It has also emerged this week that Wright has been paying £1,700 a month to fund a Kayleigh McDonald’s rehab after she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Stoke City last year. Wright has also made a £15,000 donation towards training courses to help increase the number of female grassroots coaches two years ago. Aluko issued an apology on Thursday and admitted she was ‘wrong’ to include Wright in her analysis on the broadcasting side of women’s football. ‘Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant,’ Aluko said. Ian Wright has been a major advocate of the women’s game (Getty) ‘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 lan’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. ‘I’ve known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.’ Ian Wright says he ‘can’t accept’ Eni Aluko’s apology (Instagram) However, in a video message on Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Wright said he ‘can’t accept’ Aluko’s apology. ‘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 at anyone on any of this. ‘The thing about where the women’s game is, is that it can’t be about individuals like 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, the game has serious systemic challenges, and it’s going to take everyone to help fix it. So for me, I always give back to the game, it’s given me so much. ‘I was with the Ten Em Bee girls team last night and the vibes were great, I’ve got to post a picture of them or otherwise I’ll get in trouble later. ‘Anyway, let me not digress, it’s never bothered me about who is 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 and when you think about it, we are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, greater than most, to lead the way in women’s football. ‘We men, like I mentioned earlier, are the ones who banned women’s football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one. I’m going t
Ian Wright says he ‘can’t accept’ Eni Aluko’s apology after she suggested that the former Arsenal and England striker was ‘blocking’ opportunities for female broadcasters in women’s football.
During an interview with BBC’s Woman’s Hour this week, Aluko described Wright as ‘dominating’ the broadcasting side of women’s football and said the 61-year-old needed to ‘be aware’ of taking up a position which could be filled by a female pundit.
‘What we don’t want is a repeat dominance of men in the women’s game, as broadcasters, as coaches, earning more money than women when we can’t do the same in the men’s game,’ Aluko said.
‘I would never, ever be able to usurp Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, these are guys who have done it for a long time, they are brilliant broadcasters, they rightly dominate their sport. I think the same should apply in the women’s game.
‘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.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘The fact of the matter is, as I said, 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, Ian is dominating the women’s game.’
Aluko’s comments about Wright attracted criticism as he has been a major advocate of the women’s game for several years.
It has also emerged this week that Wright has been paying £1,700 a month to fund a Kayleigh McDonald’s rehab after she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Stoke City last year.
Wright has also made a £15,000 donation towards training courses to help increase the number of female grassroots coaches two years ago.
Aluko issued an apology on Thursday and admitted she was ‘wrong’ to include Wright in her analysis on the broadcasting side of women’s football.
‘Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant,’ Aluko said.
‘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 lan’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise.
‘I’ve known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.’
However, in a video message on Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Wright said he ‘can’t accept’ Aluko’s apology.
‘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 at anyone on any of this.
‘The thing about where the women’s game is, is that it can’t be about individuals like 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, the game has serious systemic challenges, and it’s going to take everyone to help fix it. So for me, I always give back to the game, it’s given me so much.
‘I was with the Ten Em Bee girls team last night and the vibes were great, I’ve got to post a picture of them or otherwise I’ll get in trouble later.
‘Anyway, let me not digress, it’s never bothered me about who is 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 and when you think about it, we are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, greater than most, to lead the way in women’s football.
‘We men, like I mentioned earlier, are the ones who banned women’s football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one. I’m going to leave it there, I’m going on too much but before I go, I need to say to everyone who has spoken about it publicly and has shown love and support, I thank you. It’s something I do not take for granted.
‘I’ve never felt quite as emotional this week seeing so many of those public messages of support. Kayleigh [McDonald], I love you so much. Take it easy everyone.’
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