Eni Aluko has accused Ian Wright of preventing female commentators from participating in the women’s game. The legendary Arsenal player has frequently praised women’s football on his many platforms and frequently commentated on Women’s Super League games.
Wright and Aluko have already collaborated on panels, but the former feels that more opportunities for women to participate in punditry should be provided. “Male pundits should be ‘aware’ of how much space they take up on punditry panels,” she has said.
Alongside former Lioness Jill Scott, Wright, one of the best attackers in Premier League history, is frequently heard advancing the expanding women’s game on The Overlap. Last year, he and Steph Houghton also launched a podcast devoted to it.
Ian Wright Accused of ‘Dominating’ Women’s Football
‘There’s a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that’
“I’ve worked with Ian for a long time and, you know, I think he’s a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he’s aware of just how much he’s doing in the women’s game,” the former Chelsea and England football player said on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour, according to Mail Sport. I believe he ought to know that.
The 38-year-old Aluko continued by defending her position, saying that it is more difficult for a female commentator to work as frequently in the men’s game than it is for a male one. She went on:
“The truth is that there are only a certain number of spots available. There would be no restrictions if broadcasters and coaches were given the same opportunities in the men’s game as in the women’s.
However, that isn’t true. You know, you used Ian as an example, but I can’t control the men’s game like that.”
She was then questioned if she thought it was inappropriate for Wright and other male commentators to be active in women’s sports. Aluko replied, “I don’t know about wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women’s game.”
stating more broadly that males ought to be more conscious of their role and refrain from occupying the few spots available for punditry. Aluko said as he wrapped up the conversation:
“It’s still new and developing. I believe that men should be conscious of the fact that opportunities are limited.
“Men need to be aware that, you know, you’re in a growing sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven’t always had these opportunities, and so it’s about the awareness and supporting other women through that pathway.”
xz
