Former England striker Eni Aluko has apologised to Ian Wright after she stated that male broadcasters such as him risked blocking female pundits from working in the women’s game.
Wright has been a vocal supporter of women’s football and features regularly as a pundit on match coverage in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Aluko said that Wright was “dominating” the field and that he “should be aware” of how much he was doing.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Friday, Aluko apologised to the former Arsenal and England striker, describing him as a “role model.”
“Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant,” Aluko wrote. “In my interview with Woman’s Hour this week, 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 on and off the pitch.
“But it was wrong for Ian’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I’ve known and worked with Ian for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.”
Aluko, 38, asked about her…
