Ian Wright is set to be part of ITV’s coverage of England vs Italy in the semi-finals of the Women’s European Championship, returning to his punditry role for the first time since an unexpected clash with Eni Aluko.
The Arsenal legend has been busy covering the Women’s Euros but away from the television cameras, hosting the Crossways podcast with Steph Houghton.
He will be back on screen on Tuesday night in Geneva, though, with the Telegraph reporting he will be alongside host Laura Woods, former Emma Hayes and Karen Carney.
Aluko has been working in a punditry role during the tournament in Switzerland but has now completed her duties with ITV so will not be involved.
The Telegraph note that Wright was not originally part of ITV’s broadcast team, but is doing the same as he did during the 2023 World Cup, by arriving for the semi-finals onwards.
Wright has long been a regular part of women’s football coverage and that was actually how his unlikely argument with Aluko started.
There was a surprise attack on Wright from the former England forward, which the 61-year-old did not appreciate.
Aluko accuses Wright of ‘dominating the women’s game’
Aluko accused Wright of ‘blocking’ opportunities for female broadcasters in an interview with the BBC’s Woman’s Hour in April, and said that the former Arsenal and England striker is ‘dominating’ the women’s game.
‘What we don’t want is a repeat dominance of men in the women’s game, as broadcasters, as coaches, earning more money than women when we can’t do the same in the men’s game,’ she said.
‘I would never, ever be able to usurp Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, these are guys who have done it for a long time, they are brilliant broadcasters, they rightly dominate their sport. I think the same should apply in the women’s game.
‘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, as I said, 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, Ian is dominating the women’s game.’
Aluko apologises
Aluko’s comments attracted criticism as the former Arsenal striker has been a major advocate of the women’s game for several years.
It also emerged that Wright has been paying £1,700 a month to fund Kayleigh McDonald’s rehab after she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Stoke City last year.
‘I wouldn’t be in a great place mentally if it wasn’t for Ian Wright,’ said McDonald. ‘I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn’t for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn’t know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.’
Wright has also made a £15,000 donation towards training courses to help increase the number of female grassroots coaches.
Aluko said: ‘Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant.
‘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 spurns the apology
The Arsenal legend said he wanted to move on from the situation, but also felt that he could not accept the apology.
‘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,’ Wright said.
‘I’ve seen the apology on social media but I can’t accept it, but I also want to move on.’
ITV back Wright
‘Ian’s standing in the sport is beyond question,’ an ITV spokesperson told The Guardian.
‘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.’
Wright was further supported by his podcast co-host Houghton, who said: ‘Ian, can I just say this, and this has not been pre-empted, I think I posted on Instagram: What you have done for our game is unbelievable and you’ve got to take all the credit that everybody’s thrown at you this last week because you are a super-hero. And I love working with you.’
Now Wright is making his return to covering the Lionesses and will be hoping to be watching them beat Italy and reach the Euro 2025 final.