Eni Aluko snubbed by ITV for Lionesses’ first match since Ian Wright
An insider gave a stark warning over Aluko's future with the broadcaster
Tony Robertson,
ENI ALUKO has reportedly been dropped by ITV for England Women's first match since she accused Ian Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits.
The former Lioness star claimed in April that Wright, who works as a pundit on both men's and women's football, was blocking opportunities for female pundits to work in the women's game.
Eni Aluko, TNT Sports pundit, at a UEFA Champions League match.
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Eni Aluko has been snubbed by ITV for pundit duty for England Women's first game since her row with Ian WrightCredit: Getty
Ian Wright speaking into a microphone.
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She had accused the pundit of blocking opportunities for female punditsCredit: Getty
Aluko, 38, later apologised to the 61-year-old, but the ex-Arsenal ace rejected her apology.
And following the exchange, ITV have not selected Aluko for punditry duty as the Lionesses face Portugal in the Nations League on Friday night.
Anita Asante and Vicky Losada have been picked for punditry duty instead.
And according to the Daily Mail, the broadcaster has refused to confirm whether Aluko will be on its coverage of the Women's European Championships.
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Insiders claim she may even be facing the axe completely, with one saying the choice not to select her for coverage against Portugal "does not bode well" for her future.
Aluko had been a regular sight on TV with TNT and ITV, often during Conference League matches involving the men's side of her old club, Chelsea, and England Women's international games.
However, after her sensational row with Wright, she was not selected for any of the major Uefa finals by TNT Sports.
At the end of April, Aluko had also quit her hosting duties at the Women's Football Awards owing to the backlash her comments had generated.
Wright has been a big advocate of the women's game for a number of years and shown his support in a number of ways, which made Aluko's criticism all the more bizarre.
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He made an incredible gesture to Stoke City defender Kayleigh McDonald after she suffered a ruptured ACL was forced to set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds when the club refused to pay for surgery.
Stoke eventually backtracked - largely thanks to Wright, it has been revealed, as he paid for a sports lawyer to advocate for McDonald.
And when the club pulled funding for her rehab at the end of last year, Wright started paying for it out of his own pocket. The defender revealed that her rehab costs around £1,700-a-month.
In the aftermath of the saga, ITV released a statement at the time backing Wright, which read: "Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question.
"As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions."
Ian Wright's response to Eni Aluko's apology
"I'm very disappointed by what Eni has said."She knows how I have helped her and supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management."I've seen the apology on social media, but I can't accept it, but I also want to move on from it. I don't need any further social commentary directed at anyone."The thing about where the women's game is, it isn't about me - it has to be about the collective."Because of the past, we know the men blocked the women's game for 50 years, because of the past we know the game has serious systemic challenges, and it's going to take everyone to help fixes."So for me, 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. if you know my story you'll know how much football means to me."We are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, to lead the way in women's football."We men are the ones that banned women's football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one."I need to say to everyone who has spoken about it publicly and showed love and support, I say thank you."It's something I do not take for granted."
It was reported last month that Aluko's outburst had angered senior figures at ITV, who pride themselves on having a diverse and inclusive roster of pundits working on games for them.
The 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had seen ITV and rivals BBC have a combined 25 presenters, pundits and commentators, 23 of whom, including Aluko, were female.
After facing Portugal this Friday, Sarina Wiegman's side then face Spain on Tuesday in another Nations League clash.
The games will serve as an early warm-up for this summer's European Championships being held in Switzerland, with the Lionesses kicking off their campaign against France.
Clashes with the Netherlands and Wales complete the group as England look to retain their European Championship crown won in 2022.
Stars including Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Beth Mead joined the squad after winning the Women's Champions League with Arsenal following a shock 1-0 win over Barcelona.
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However, the camp was thrown into chaos with the sudden announcement that former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps would be retiring from international football.
That decision, which arrived just five weeks before Euro 2025, allegedly came despite Wiegman asking her not to retire before the Euros, which left the England boss furious with the U-turn.
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