Eni Aluko has accused Arsenal legend Ian Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits in women’s football.
The former British-Nigerian footballer, 38, took aim at Wright who has been a major advocate of the women’s game.
Speaking on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour, the former England and Chelsea forward said: ‘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.
‘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.’
When asked to clarify if she thinks it is wrong for Wright, 61, to be a figure at the forefront of coverage of women’s football, Aluko added: ‘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.
‘It’s still new, it’s still growing. There’s a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that.
‘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.’
Wright launched a podcast alongside Steph Houghton last year about the women’s game and regularly speaks about it with Kelly Cates on the BBC.
Wright has previously spoken out in support of female pundits who have suffered abuse in the past, insisting they ‘deserve’ their roles and saying he was ’embarrassed’ about vitriol sent their way.
Aluko, along with Alex Scott and Karen Carney, is among the female pundits to have been targeted.
