Eni Aluko has raised concerns over the presence of male pundits in women’s football broadcasting, singling out Ian Wright for occupying significant space in a growing but still limited field.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, the former England international acknowledged Wright’s contributions to promoting women’s football but questioned whether his frequent appearances were crowding out opportunities for women.
“I’ve worked with Ian for a long time, and he’s an excellent broadcaster,” said Aluko, 38. “But I think even he needs to reflect on how much space he takes up in the women’s game. There are only so many seats at the table, and we need to ensure women aren’t being shut out of those opportunities.”
She stressed that unlike men’s football, where the media landscape is more expansive, women in broadcasting face a much narrower path — especially within coverage of the women’s game itself.
Aluko stopped short of saying Wright was wrong for being involved but emphasized the need for “consciousness and balance” as the sport evolves. “It’s about awareness. This is a developing space, and it’s important men support women by not dominating it.”
Wright, 61, has been an outspoken supporter of women’s football, co-hosting a podcast with former England captain Steph Houghton and frequently appearing on platforms like The Overlap and BBC coverage. He has also defended female pundits against online abuse, previously calling out the misogyny many face.
Aluko herself has been a high-profile pundit for over a decade, appearing on major networks alongside figures like Alex Scott and Karen Carney. However, she believes her career has stalled in recent years—something she partially attributes to the ongoing libel case involving former footballer Joey Barton.
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Aluko is suing Barton over derogatory posts he made on X (formerly Twitter) in January 2024, in which he accused her of being a “race card player” and mocked her background. A judge has ruled that at least one of the posts was defamatory in nature and suggested a cynical exploitation of race.
Despite this initial legal victory, Aluko says the public fallout has harmed her career.
“I’ve been doing TV for 11 years, and over the last 18 months, I’ve done the least I’ve ever done. That’s not an opinion—it’s fact,” she said. According to the Internet Commentator Database, her appearances dropped from 44 in 2022 to just 27 in 2023.
She also described the emotional toll of Barton’s posts, revealing that during the height of the controversy she felt unsafe in public and resorted to disguises when leaving her home. “Some might say it’s extreme, but that’s how real the impact was,” she said.
The case against Barton is ongoing. In a separate matter, he faces criminal charges for allegedly sending offensive messages aimed at Aluko and fellow pundit Lucy Ward, comparing them to infamous serial killers and dictators in a series of tweets.
Aluko concluded by reiterating the larger issue: women in football media are still fighting for space, and high-profile men—however well-intentioned—need to be aware of their influence.
“There’s a double standard at play. We’re still competing for just a few spots. And unfortunately, some want us off the screen altogether.”
