Ian Wright says he “cannot accept” Eni Aluko’s apology after she suggested he might be limiting opportunities for female pundits in football broadcasting.
The former England striker, who works extensively as a pundit in both the men’s and women’s games, acknowledged Aluko’s apology but made it clear he wished to move past the incident.
“I’m very disappointed by what Eni has said,” said the 61-year-old Arsenal legend. “She knows how much I have supported her, both publicly and privately. I can’t accept the apology, but I also don’t want to dwell on it. I don’t need any more commentary directed at anyone.”
Wright has been a vocal advocate for women’s football for years, regularly working on coverage of the Lionesses and major women’s tournaments.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour earlier this week, Aluko — who has previously worked alongside Wright — suggested that male pundits needed to be mindful of how much space they occupy in the women’s game, given the “finite amount of opportunities” available to women.
The 38-year-old former Chelsea and England forward faced significant backlash for her remarks. On Friday, she issued a public apology via Instagram, saying:
“Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant. In my interview with Woman’s Hour, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football — whether that’s in coaching, broadcasting, or commercial spaces — and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive. However, it was wrong to bring Ian’s name into that conversation, and for that, I sincerely apologise. I have known and worked with Ian for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.”
Wright, in response, thanked those who had shown him support but stressed the need to focus on growing the women’s game.
“Because of the past, where men blocked the women’s game for 50 years, the sport still faces systemic challenges, and it’s going to take everyone’s efforts to fix it,” he said.
“As the country that invented modern football, we have a responsibility to lead the way in developing women’s football.
“For me, I’ll always give back to the game because it has given me so much. It has never mattered to me who’s playing — just that they’re playing. If you know my story, you know how much football means to me.”
