Eni Aluko targets Ian Wright again as women's football debate rages on

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 9 Feb 2026 04:21 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

Eni Aluko has again taken aim at Ian Wright for his work as a pundit on women's matches.

The 38-year-old won over 100 caps for the England Women's National Team and has acted as a pundit on both women's and men's matches previously.

Last year, she criticised Arsenal legend Wright for apparently taking away punditry spots from women on women's matches.

Wright said at the time 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.”

Aluko subsequently apologised but she has catalysed a debate again.

Speaking on the 90s Baby Show podcast, she said: “Last year, at the Women’s Lionesses final, I’m sat in the stands, I wasn’t on ITV for the final, Fara Williams was sat next to me, Fara Williams has 170 caps [172 caps] for England, something ridiculous, I think she’s the most-capped player, she’s sat in the stands.

Eni Aluko speaks out about the Lionesses Euro 2025 final and the pundits for that game… pic.twitter.com/1vQcKyIZ0s

— george (@StokeyyG2) February 7, 2026

“The two broadcasters that had the rights for the game – ITV and BBC – on BBC you’ve got Ellen White, Steph Houghton and Nedum Onuoha, no offence to Nedum Onuoha, nothing against him, I don’t know whether he played for England or not, but you’re on the main panel for the final for England Women.

“Let’s go over to ITV, I’m in the stands with 105 caps, so you’ve got two women, between us we’ve got 290 caps, something ridiculous, you turn over to ITV and it’s Ian Wright, Emma Hayes and Kaz [Karen] Carney.

“So out of six punditry spots, two have gone to men. Meanwhile you’ve got 290 caps, whatever it is, sitting in the stands. It’s nothing against Ian, it’s nothing against them, I’m just saying broadly speaking we need to be aware of that because if we’re building a game where the limited opportunities are now being taken by men, where we can’t go into the men’s game and get the same opportunities, we’re stuck.”

She added: "The issue I have with Ian is that, I think in his position he needs to clock what I'm saying."

Aluko's words have again catalysed debate but it seems the majority are on the side of Wright, who has long been a supporter of the women's game in England.

Presenter Laura Woods posted on X:

"Caps don’t win automatic work and they don’t make a brilliant pundit either. The way you communicate, articulate yourself, do your research, inform your audience, how likeable you are and the chemistry you have with your panel are what makes a brilliant pundit.

Here’s a picture of our team at ITV. We won best production at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025 for our coverage of the women’s euros. Seb Hutchinson won best commentator too. So I think ITV got it just right. pic.twitter.com/w2KiIswJAG

— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) February 9, 2026

"If you want to grow something, you don’t gate keep it. We want to encourage little boys and men to watch women’s football too, not just little girls and women. And when they see someone like Ian Wright taking it as seriously as he does - they follow suit. That’s how you grow a sport."

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