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Eni Aluko Hits Out At Lack Of Diversity In England Women's Team And Women's Super League

Eni Aluko Hits Out At Lack Of Diversity In England Women's Team And Women's Super League

Former Chelsea and Juventus star Eni Aluko suggested that she was "not one to say that anybody should be picked just because of their race."

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Former Three Lionesses striker Eni Aluko has insisted that the lack of diversity in England women's team is "concerning."

The Lionesses secured a thumping 6-0 victory over Northern Ireland in a friendly at England's St George's Park training base last month.

However, Hege Riise's women only featured one non-white player in the England squad against Northern Ireland.

Manchester United women's boss Casey Stoney has already voiced her concerns over representation in the Women's Super League, saying it is "very white" and "diversity is something we have to improve drastically."

According to The Daily Telegraph, only 10 to 15 per cent of WSL players are from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background.

Aluko, 34, made over 100 appearances for England before she retired from football in 2019.

PA

PA

PA

PA

The former Chelsea and Juventus star did say that she doesn't believe "anybody should be picked just because of their race."

However, Aluko questioned why there isn't "as much representation as certainly there was before, under managers like Hope Powell."

The Aston Villa director of women's football told Sky Sports: "I'm not sure progress has been made.

"I think when you look at the representation across the England women's team, it is concerning.

"I'm not one to say that anybody should be picked just because of their race, but I certainly think that in a country like England you have to ask the question of why there isn't as much representation as certainly there was before, under managers like Hope Powell.

"I think there's a variety of reasons for that, maybe there's a disconnect between academies now, and where the game is professionalising, there's a little bit of a disconnect between inner-city talent and academies that are training in the suburbs of cities."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, WSL, England, Women's Super League