Eni Aluko reinforces her views on men in women’s football punditry, spotlighting her ongoing tensions with Ian Wright while praising Gary Neville as a steadfast supporter.
Debate Over Pundit Roles in Women’s Coverage
Aluko, a former Chelsea and England star, questions why Ian Wright and Nedum Onuoha secured two of six pundit spots for ITV and BBC’s Euro 2025 final coverage. She previously accused Wright of hindering opportunities for female pundits through his role in the women’s game.
After sparking backlash with her 2025 comments, Aluko offered an apology, which Wright rejected in a public video response. Laura Woods issued a firm statement on Aluko’s latest remarks about male involvement in women’s football.
Aluko Praises Neville During TalkSPORT Exchange
In a lively talkSPORT discussion with Simon Jordan, Aluko expressed hope that Wright might leverage his ITV connections to restore her prominent role following last year’s controversy. She acknowledged the outcome and shifted focus to other figures.
When Neville’s name arose, Aluko clarified: “I’m not sure he could because he doesn’t have the type of relationship that Ian does with ITV.”
She highlighted Neville’s consistent support, stating: “For me, allies come in all colours. Gary Neville is an amazing ally. He’s been so supportive towards me. That [colour] is not what it’s about. But Gary has been very supportive throughout my career.”
Aluko recalled early career moments: “I remember years ago when I was starting as a sporting director, I went over to Salford, shadowed Gary for the day and had a nice tea at half-time. He put me up in his nice hotel in Manchester. Always checks in: ‘How are you doing? How are you feeling?’”
Emphasizing respect over entitlement, she added: “That’s kind of what you want from these big male allies. That’s not an entitlement. For me, if I feel entitled to anything, it’s respect. I just want people to respect my opinion.”
Neville’s Strong Defense Against Online Attacks
Neville previously backed Aluko amid abuse from Joey Barton. In a pointed social media post, he declared: “It’s gone too far this and mentioning serial killers is quite simply incredible.”
Drawing from family experiences, Neville continued: “I come from a family that has fought these issues for years and I’ve witnessed it firsthand. All this does is just discourage and it’s not the way forward. It’s bloody hard work for women to succeed in sport and media as it is without this stuff.”
Aluko responded glowingly: “Whenever I work with Gary Neville, I feel like I’ve made it. OK, this is it. He’s an incredibly intelligent man, he knows his football inside out.”
