Aluko, currently working with ITV as a football pundit, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, where she expressed concern over the limited space available for women in coaching, media, and other areas of football. She highlighted that women's football is still developing, and that with only a "finite amount of opportunities," it's important that men are conscious of how much space they occupy in this space.
While she acknowledged Wright as a "brilliant broadcaster" and praised his support for women's football, she used him as an example to illustrate her point, saying, "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." She emphasized that unlike men in the women's game, she and other women couldn't easily dominate media roles in men's football.
These remarks sparked backlash, especially given Wright's well-known and long-standing advocacy for the women's game, including his support for Aluko herself when she faced criticism during the 2022 World Cup.
Facing growing scrutiny, Aluko took to Instagram to clarify her stance and offer an apology. "Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant," she wrote. "In my interview with Woman's Hour, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football... but it was wrong for Ian's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise."
She added that she has worked with Wright for many years and holds "nothing but love and respect" for him. Her goal, she reiterated, was to encourage awareness around making space for women in a rapidly growing sport, not to criticise individuals who support the cause.
Aluko's comments have reignited the conversation around gender representation in football broadcasting, with many acknowledging the importance of maintaining a balance between creating space for women and appreciating allies like Wright who continue to push the women's game forward.
