Eni Aluko has accused Ian Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits in women’s football.
Aluko took aim at the Arsenal legend – who has been a major advocate of the women’s game – pointedly saying he should be aware of how much space he takes up.
The former England and Chelsea forward was speaking on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour and said: ‘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.
‘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.’
When asked to clarify if she thinks it is wrong for Wright 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.
Ian Wright (right) has been accused by Eni Aluko (left) of blocking opportunities for women
‘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.’
Wright launched a podcast alongside Steph Houghton last year about the women’s game and regularly speaks about it with Kelly Cates on the BBC.
More to follow…
