Eni Aluko QUITS presenting job after being left ‘traumatised’ by fallout with Ian Wright

Eni Aluko quits her presenting job as co-host of the Women’s Football Awards after being left ‘traumatised’ by the fallout with Ian Wright.

Aluko had accused Wright of “blocking opportunities for women” in women’s football punditry during a BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour interview, claiming his prominence limited spaces for female broadcasters.

The comments sparked significant backlash, as Wright is widely recognised for his advocacy for women’s football, including funding a player’s ACL rehabilitation and supporting female coaching initiatives.

Aluko issued an apology on Instagram, acknowledging it was wrong to single out Wright and praising his contributions to the women’s game.

However, Wright rejected the apology, expressing disappointment and citing their prior positive interactions.

ITV, where both have worked as pundits, issued a statement strongly supporting Wright, raising questions about Aluko’s future with the broadcaster.

An ITV spokesperson told The Guardian: “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.”

Her mother, Sileola Aluko, said to the MailOnline that Eni was “traumatised and upset” by all of this.

Ms Aluko said: ‘This situation has affected Eni quite a lot and has left her traumatised and upset. I’m doing my best to keep her calm and just be a good mum. I’m constantly in touch with her and even met her for lunch the other day.

‘I told her that football is not the world and that you don’t become a bad or useless person in one day. It’s been tough for her, she has a lot of strong opinions, but she will come through this. She has dealt with a lot of other difficult situations in her life.’

She added: ‘The most important thing for me is that I support her and make sure she does not run into any emotional or physical problems and become unwell.

‘I’m a person of faith and have been praying with her to help keep her calm and not be afraid.’

She revealed that Emi Aluko has worked with Ian Wright in the past and ‘likes him.’

She added: ‘But she wasn’t expecting the reaction she got when she made those comments, and they were not intended to cause offence. This situation has also upset me but all I want is for her to be calm and everything will be all right.’

There are claims that she faces being axed by ITV with bosses ‘angry and bemused’ at her comments given.

But her mother insisted: ‘I want to support and help her to let her know that things like this happen, but it should not knock you out.’

Ms Aluko revealed that she had never met Wright but had a chat with him once on the phone when he was working with her daughter and that he ‘sounded like a nice man.’

In Eni Aluko’s statement, she said she stepped back from hosting the awards to avoid detracting from the event’s celebration of women’s football achievements.

Ian Wright REJECTS Eni Aluko’s apology as he breaks silence on her accusation

In a statement, she said: “The Women’s Football Awards hold a special place in my heart. It was the first time an event of this scale was created solely to celebrate the incredible achievements in women’s football. I’m so proud to have been part of it since the beginning. However, I’ve decided to take a step back from being part of the hosting lineup this year.

“I don’t want anything to deflect from the joy, recognition, and celebration that this event is all about. This event belongs to the players, coaches, fans, and everyone who has worked tirelessly to elevate the women’s game.

“The awards will be hosted in the very capable hands of Gabby Logan and Jamie Carragher, who I know will bring their passion and energy to the stage. I love women’s football deeply, I’m proud of how far we’ve come and I’ll absolutely be back involved in the future.”

‘In my interview with Woman’s Hour this week, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football – whether that’s in coaching, broadcasting or commercial spaces – and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch.

‘But it was wrong for lan’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I’ve known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.’

Wright, however, didn’t accept her reframing of the comments.

‘I have to talk about this week and what’s going on, I don’t want to endlessly be asked about it,’ he said in a video on Instagram.

‘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.

‘I’ve seen the apology on social media, but I can’t accept it, but I also want to move on.

‘For anyone watching this, I really don’t need any further social commentary directed on any of this.

‘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.’

Here’s how Twitter users reacted as Eni Aluko QUITS a presenting job after being left ‘traumatised’ by the fallout with Ian Wright…

@nickmellor35: It’s always about her, isn’t it? Everything is about her and her feelings, what about Ian Wright’s feelings? She just an attention seeker. Daft 🐄

@CD_Zombiee: She’s made a massive ordeal of out something no one was talking about. She’s not a good pundit, I don’t even remember her as a player. She targeted Ian Wright for promoting women’s football and being a massive part of why many people have started watching it.

@dc77ww: I genuinely hope they replace her with Ian Wright….

@SocialEngland66: Traumatised. She started it, spoke absolute bollocks, Ian wright didn’t accept the apology and now she’s a fully pledged professional victim. Stay off tv for good and just stay in the wilderness.

@james_cufc2000: “Traumatised”. She started running her mouth and being a prick about one the nicest fellas in football realised she had no support from her colleagues or the public, decided to backtrack and Wright wasn’t happy as you expect. Fuck off traumatised

@gricey88: Blocking her own job opportunities now then 🤷🤷

@RachelW86529886: She is the Roxanne pallet of football, tried to portray herself as a victim, and it’s backfired badly! Wrighty is a wonderful bloke, passionate about the men’s and women’s game.. and has been outspoken about her game too. Good riddance to her, won’t be missed! 👋

@Luke180101: Traumatised?? She’s the one that gave it lemon 😂😂😂😂😂

@Charpercy84: Attacks Ian Wright then plays the victim. Oh please!!!

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