Former England international, Eni Aluko, has reignited the debate on women's football punditry in the UK. Aluko has described the UK broadcasting environment as "very toxic," particularly when it comes to coverage of women's football. She made these remarks while speaking on the 90s Baby Show podcast last week.
The conversation was centered around how two men, Nedum Onuoha and Ian Wright, were included in BBC and ITV’s coverage of the women’s Euros final last summer.
The former England international had previously criticized Wright for taking punditry spots in women’s football back in 2025 too. She argued that given how limited opportunities are within the women's game, it is crucial that female voices take center stage.
Former England international, Eni Aluko, said:
“I think in the UK… it’s a very toxic space for me. And I’m fighting now to just even have an opinion. There is a feeling that I can’t say anything without the instant backlash that comes with the fact people have already decided they don’t like you.”
“I’m a fighter, I’m a resilient person and I go ’no, I want to say my opinion’ but I don’t feel welcome. That was my point. I don’t have skin in the game anymore, I’m not trying to get people out of the way so I can get in. You’ve got to recognise the environments you can thrive and really do your thing. I just don’t feel (that in) the UK at this moment in time. You never know what will happen in the future, but I’ll always be passionate about women’s football.”
“My last conversation with ITV was, I’m taking a break from broadcasting. That was after the comments about Ian Wright. We had a conversation. At that point, I’d already decided, I’m taking a break from this environment. This is no longer something that I think is serving.”
Criticism met with disrespect?
Following her comments online, Aluko faced criticism from various quarters. However, she did not shy away from her stance but instead doubled down on her views. According to reports, she posted two videos where she expressed disappointment at Ian Wright over response to her previous criticisms. She had publicly and privately apologized to him but felt his reaction lacked grace and allyship towards her cause.
Eni Aluko added:
“When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately, he had an opportunity to show the grace and allyship that he showed to many other people, and to prove that he is the ally that he says he is. Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect.”
Eni Aluko's comments have sparked a much-needed debate about representation within sports broadcasting - particularly in women's football. Her call for more opportunities for women in punditry is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality within the sports industry. While her comments have been met with mixed reactions, they serve as an important reminder that there is still much work to be done to ensure equal representation and respect within the world of sports broadcasting. It remains to be seen how this debate will shape future decisions regarding punditry roles in women's football.
