Arsenal legend absent from ‘sensational’ punditry team two months after rejecting former Lioness’s apology for controversial ‘dominating women’s football’ comments
Eni Aluko has been confirmed in ITV’s punditry line-up for next month’s Women’s European Championships – but Ian Wright is conspicuously absent following their explosive public row.
The broadcaster announced Aluko’s inclusion in what they’re calling a ‘sensational presenting and punditry lineup’ for the tournament, with coverage led by presenters Laura Woods and Seema Jaswal.
But Wright’s name is nowhere to be found on the roster – just two months after he rejected the former Lioness’s apology for claiming he was “blocking” opportunities for female pundits in women’s football.
The timing couldn’t be more awkward, with ITV confirming an all-female presenting and punditry team that includes Karen Carney, Emma Hayes, Vicky Losada, Laura Georges, Jayne Ludlow, and Caroline Weir alongside Aluko.
The comments that sparked a firestorm
The controversy erupted back in April when Aluko, 38, appeared on BBC Radio Four’s Women’s Hour and took aim at Wright’s prominent role in women’s football coverage.
“I’ve worked with Ian 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. I think he should be aware of that,” she had said.
In comments that would come back to haunt her, Aluko added: “The fact of the matter is, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men’s game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women’s game, it’s a free for all.
“But that’s not the case. I can’t dominate the men’s game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.”
Wright’s devastating rejection
The Arsenal legend, who has been one of women’s football’s most passionate advocates, was having none of it.
Despite Aluko’s hasty apology – in which she admitted it was “wrong” to single him out – Wright delivered a crushing response on social media.
“I’ve got to say, I’m very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I’ve helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she’s had with me and my management,” Wright said in an emotional Instagram video.
His killer blow? “I’ve seen the apology on social media, but I can’t accept it, but I also want to move on.”
A catalogue of consequences
The fallout for Aluko was swift and brutal. Within days, she was forced to step down from hosting the prestigious Women’s Football Awards, admitting she didn’t want to “deflect from the joy” of the event.
ITV publicly backed Wright, with a spokesperson declaring: “Ian’s standing in the sport is beyond question.
Even more damaging, a parade of current England Lionesses – including Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo and Mary Earps – publicly showed their support for Wright by liking his Instagram response.
Arsenal players Katie McCabe, Daphne van Domselaar, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Katie Reid also backed the Gunners legend, leaving Aluko increasingly isolated.
From 44 appearances to 27
Aluko herself had admitted her punditry career suffered after she began “standing up” for herself – claiming her TV appearances dropped from 44 in 2023 to just 27 last year.
She blamed the decline on her high-profile libel case against Joey Barton, who she’s suing over X posts where he allegedly compared her to serial killer Rose West.
But critics suggested her attack on Wright – one of the few male pundits who consistently champions women’s football – was a spectacular own goal.
Wright’s incredible record
What made Aluko’s comments particularly galling was Wright’s track record of supporting women’s football and female pundits.
The 61-year-old hosts a podcast with former England captain Steph Houghton dedicated to the women’s game, regularly discusses it with Kelly Cates on the BBC, and anchored the Women’s Euro 2025 draw in Switzerland.
In 2021, he spoke out about being “embarrassed” over abuse faced by female pundits including Alex Scott and Karen Carney, insisting they “deserve” their broadcasting roles.
Perhaps most tellingly, it emerged Wright had been paying £1,700 per month out of his own pocket to support Stoke City defender Kayleigh McDonald’s ACL rehabilitation after her club refused to cover the costs.
The Piers Morgan pile-on
Even Piers Morgan waded in, blasting Aluko’s “shameful disrespect to a man who has done more than any other male footballer to support and promote the women’s game.
“Ms Aluko should focus on trying to be even 100th as good a pundit as Ian Wright – which at the moment, she’s not,” Morgan wrote on X.
Former MSP Brian Monteith, a campaign adviser for Peta Watch, told LBC that Aluko’s comments were “deliberately designed to manipulate emotions.”
‘We men banned women’s football for 50 years’
In his powerful response, Wright had reminded everyone why he’s so passionate about the women’s game.
We are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility to lead the way in women’s football,” he said. We men are the ones that banned women’s football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one.
He added: “I always give back to the game, it’s given me so much. It’s never bothered me about who’s playing the game, as long as they’re playing the game.”
An all-female Euros team… minus Wright
Now, as ITV prepares for the Euros, they’ve assembled an entirely female presenting and punditry line-up – ironically, exactly what Aluko claimed to want.
But Wright’s absence speaks volumes. The man who has done more than perhaps any other male broadcaster to champion women’s football won’t be part of the coverage.
Seb Hutchinson and Sam Matterface will serve as commentators alongside Pien Meulensteen, with co-commentators Lucy Ward, Siobhan Chamberlain, Emma Byrne, and Nia Jones.
‘Thought-provoking punditry’ promised
ITV Director of Sport Niall Sloane promised the broadcaster will provide “provoking punditry” during the tournament – though perhaps not quite the kind of provocation Aluko had in mind.
We are proud at ITV to broadcast the UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 in what we expect to be a brilliant tournament showcasing the very top footballers in Europe,” Sloane said.
The women’s game continues to grow from strength to strength, and ITV will be front and centre to provide expert coverage, analysis and thought provoking punditry with our elite broadcasting team.
Silent on the controversy
Neither Aluko nor Wright have yet commented on ITV’s punditry line-up announcement – though the silence speaks volumes.
ITV will broadcast England’s opening match against France on July 5, as well as their final group game against Wales on July 13.
They’ll show one quarter-final and have first pick of the semi-finals, while both ITV and the BBC will broadcast the final on July 27.
The ultimate irony
The supreme irony is that Wright’s absence from the Euros coverage proves Aluko’s point – there ARE limited spaces for pundits covering women’s football.
The difference is, Wright voluntarily gave up his spot after being attacked for occupying it, while Aluko kept hers despite causing the controversy.
As one fan put it on social media: “Ian Wright did more for women’s football by NOT being there than Eni Aluko will do by being there.
England will hope to retain their European crown without the man who’s been their biggest male cheerleader on the sidelines. And that, surely, is everyone’s loss.
Image credit: Photo by Johnmaxmena, taken in April 2009, showing Eniola Aluko of St. Louis Athletica and the England women’s national team. Dedicated to the public domain under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
Image page: View on Wikimedia Commons – “E Aluko2009.jpg”
