Eni Aluko Accuses Ian Wright of Dominating Women’s Football Coverage and Blocking Female Pundits’ Opportunities

Eni Aluko Accuses Ian Wright of Limiting Female Pundit Opportunities in Women’s Football
(Image: Eni Aluko and Ian Wright during a broadcast)

Former England and Chelsea star Eni Aluko has criticized Arsenal legend Ian Wright, a vocal advocate for women’s football, for allegedly dominating broadcasting roles in the sport and limiting opportunities for female pundits. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, the 38-year-old acknowledged Wright’s talent but urged greater awareness of the need for gender equity in coverage.

“There’s a finite number of opportunities in women’s football,” Aluko said. “Men need to support pathways for women in broadcasting instead of occupying space in a sport still fighting for visibility.” While she stopped short of calling Wright’s involvement “wrong,” she emphasized that male figures should avoid overshadowing female voices in the growing women’s game.

Wright, 61, co-hosts a women’s football podcast with Steph Houghton and frequently appears on BBC and The Overlap alongside Gary Neville and Jill Scott. Despite his advocacy, Aluko argued that his prominence risks sidelining women in a field where representation remains limited.

(Image: Laura Woods, Aluko, and Wright during a 2021 World Cup qualifier broadcast)

Legal Battle with Joey Barton
Aluko also revealed how a libel case against ex-footballer Joey Barton has impacted her career. Barton faced a High Court ruling that his social media posts—calling her a “race card player” and mocking her punditry—were defamatory. Aluko claims the backlash led to fewer TV opportunities, with her appearances dropping from 44 in 2023 to 27 in 2024.

“When women speak out, their careers often suffer,” she said, adding that Barton’s remarks forced her to disguise herself in public due to safety fears. “I’ve never done so little TV in my 11-year broadcasting career. Some want women off the screen entirely.”

(Image: Aluko, Karen Carney, and Wright on ITV punditry duty in 2023)

Judge’s Ruling and Barton’s Comments
The court found Barton’s January 2024 posts—including accusations of Aluko exploiting her race and privileged background—carried defamatory meanings. One tweet referenced her Nigerian senator father and