Ian Wright footage ‘quashes myth’ after Eni Aluko row takes turn | Football | Sport
Eni Aluko made the comments on a podcast last week (Image: 90s Baby Show)
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has found himself embroiled in another dispute with TV pundit Eni Aluko. ITV presenter Laura Woods has swiftly defended Wright following comments from former England international Aluko, who argued that women’s football coverage should give priority to female pundits.
Wright is a widely respected TV presenter and analyst who has been a vocal advocate for the women’s game across all tiers. Previously, Aluko has insinuated that Wright has latched onto women’s football to forge a fresh career path. However, a sharp-eyed Crystal Palace supporter has unearthed remarkable footage from before the 1990 FA Cup final, showing Wright and his Palace colleagues during their customary pre-match walkabout in suits at Wembley ahead of their clash with Manchester United.
The clip – at approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds – clearly captures players from the England Women’s team, who had thrashed Scotland 4-0 at Wembley that same day, standing pitchside calling out to Wright. He evidently recognises them, walks over to greet them warmly, demonstrating his longstanding involvement and enthusiasm for the women’s game.
The Palace supporter commented: “That says everything about Ian and dispels any myth about it – you can see the warmth, respect and admiration. He is the player they know, they respect and it shows, once and for all, that Wrighty has taken a real interest in the women’s game for many, many years. And this proves it.”
This isn’t the first occasion Aluko has criticised coverage of the women’s game, having previously apologised to Wright, who refused to accept it. On this occasion, Aluko took issue with ITV’s selection of pundits for last year’s women’s final. Speaking on the 90s Baby Show podcast, Aluko said: “Last year at the Women’s Lionesses final, I’m sat in the stands, I wasn’t on it for ITV for the final. Farah Williams was next to me. Farah Williams has 170 caps for England.
“The two broadcasters that had the rights, ITV, BBC. On BBC, you’ve got Ellen White, Steph Houghton and Nedum Onuoha. No offence to Nedum Onouha, nothing against him, I don’t know whether he played for England or not. You’re on the main panel for the final for England Women.
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Ian Wright and Mark Bright talk to the England Women’s players before the 1990 FA Cup final (Image: YouTube)
“Let’s go over to ITV, I’m in the stands with 105 caps, so you have got two women with 290 caps, something ridiculous right. ITV, it’s Ian Wright, Emma Hayes and Kaz [Karen] Carney. So out of six spots, two have gone to men, meanwhile you have got 290 (caps) sitting in the stands.
“I have never done a final and I am probably going to struggle to think of any woman, female pundit, who has done a men’s major final. I am talking about as a pundit, so something is not right there. Why are people like me and Faz (Fara) not there? It is nothing against Ian and nothing against them, I am just saying broadly speaking we need to be aware of that.”
Woods has fired back in defence of her co-host and ITV expert Wright, stating on social media: “Caps don’t win automatic work and they don’t make a brilliant pundit either. The way you communicate, articulate yourself, do your research, inform your audience, how likeable you are and the chemistry you have with your panel are what makes a brilliant pundit.
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“The women’s game should be by women for women,’ is one of the most damaging phrases I’ve heard. It will not only drag women’s sport backwards, it will drag women’s punditry in all forms of the game backwards.
Woods continued: “If you want to grow something, you don’t gatekeep it. We want to encourage little boys and men to watch women’s football too, not just little girls and women. And when they see someone like Ian Wright taking it as seriously as he does – they follow suit. That’s how you grow a sport.
“Here’s a picture of our team at ITV. We won best production at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025 for our coverage of the women’s Euros. Seb Hutchinson won best commentator too. So I think ITV got it just right.”
