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Arsenal icon Ian Wright has said he can’t accept Eniola Aluko’s apology for stating that the Gunners legend should be conscious about blocking opportunities for female pundits in women’s football. Wright, who became a regular pundit on BBC Match of the Day in 2002 for the men's game, has been a key voice in women's football punditry over the past few years.
During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Aluko claimed that there are a "finite amount of opportunities" in women's football punditry and men, including Ian Wright, need to be aware of that.
Aluko's comments were, however, met with backlash, and she has since apologized to Wright. The former Arsenal forward has now broken his silence on the initial claim and the apology.
In a video posted on Instagram, Ian Wright expressed disappointment at Eniola Aluko’s comments, said he has seen the apology, and insisted on moving on from it.
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"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."
Eniola Aluko’s comments on Ian Wright blocking female pundits in the women’s game
Eniola Aluko has been a broadcaster in the game since 2014. She has worked for several reputable mainstream media outlets, which include ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime, and FOX Sports.
The Nigeria-born English pundit told BBC on Wednesday (April 23):
"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," said Aluko.
"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 if it was wrong for Ian Wright to cover women’s football, she said:
''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."
Apart from BBC Match of the Day, Ian Wright has also worked as a pundit on BT Sport, ITV, and Premier League Productions.
