Eni Aluko has slammed Ian Wright in a lengthy rant posted to her Instagram page following the pair’s long-running feud, which dates back to April of last year.
Former Chelsea forward Aluko first came under fire in April 2025 after she suggested that former Arsenal forward-turned-pundit Wright was “blocking opportunities for women” with aims of a broadcasting career in the women’s game.
While speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, she said that Wright, who has been a vocal advocate for the women’s game, needed to be aware of his presence in the media, as there is a “finite amount of opportunities” for women broadcasters.
The 38-year-old later apologised and admitted that she was “wrong” for singling out Wright. However, the 62-year-old refused to accept her apology before stressing how he wanted to move on from the saga.
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But Aluko raised the subject again during an appearance on the ‘90s Baby Show’ podcast earlier this week.
Once more, she voiced her frustrations, homing in on the fact that two of the six pundit spots across ITV and BBC’s coverage of last summer’s Euros final were taken by men – Wright and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
After saying “we need to gatekeep the women’s game in a way that the men’s game is gatekept", Aluko added: “In the women’s game, the opportunities are even more limited, so the main characters of the show should be the women.
“Men should be part of that. I’m not saying anybody should be excluded. I believe in diversity wholeheartedly, but the same way we’ve played a role in the men’s game, that’s a supporting role, you’re part of the ensemble, you’re never going to get the premium final games, it should be the same way for women’s football.”
She was also keen to mention that she has no personal issues with Onuoha or Wright.
Aluko then suggested that a possible solution to the issue would be to bring in more female pundits to cover high-profile men’s games in the same fashion Wright and others have covered women’s finals.
On Sunday, she addressed the issue again, this time posting two lengthy videos to her Instagram account with one captioned: “It is time for the weaponisation of Ian Wright’s name against me to stop. It is no longer something I am willing to accept, and I will not be silenced for the opinion I’ve earned over 20 years in women’s football.”
Aluko claimed that her “humility” was “met with disrespect” by Wright, who she feels “greenlit” other people to “pile on” with their opinions on the matter.
The former footballer then focused on the negative reaction she has received from the UK press, accusing the media of “dark arts” before saying her mother was “doorstepped” last spring.
In a separate post, Aluko claimed she has “always been open about having an open grown-up conversation with Ian Wright” with “mutual respect”.
The broadcaster said: “I’m a little bit disappointed to hear that… Ian, if you’re watching this, there’s been a sort of, ‘I don’t want to work with her,’ and this active choice that people are now having to make, which is childish.
“I would never use my privilege to say, ‘I don’t want to work with that person, so that person shouldn’t get an opportunity.’ I would never do that.”
Topics: Ian Wright, Womens Football
Luke Davies