Eni Aluko has responded to a lengthy X thread from Laura Woods amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her feud with Ian Wright. Aluko caused outrage in 2025 when she accused Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits, and she has reaffirmed her stance this week.
The former England international, who represented the Lionesses 105 times during her career, bemoaned the fact that two men, Wright and Nedum Onuoha, were on the punditry panel for the Women's Euro 2025 final. Aluko said on the 90s Baby Show podcast:
"My point is, I’ve never done a major final in men’s football for eleven years, I’ve done three World Cups, men’s Euros, Champions League, I’ve never had that opportunity, and maybe rightly so, I’d probably say rightly so because, again, I think the guys should always be ahead of me, the main guys."
Eni Aluko 'Respects' Laura Woods' Opinion But Pushes Back
Eni Aluko
Eni Aluko
Woods, 38, took to X on Monday morning to post a long thread explaining that 'caps don't win automatic work'. That comment came after Aluko had pointed out she was sitting in the stands of last year's final next to Fara Williams, who has 172 England caps.
Among the lengthy statement, the TNT Sports presenter added: “'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."
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Ian Wright’s Response After Eni Aluko Made Mistake Looks Interesting Now
The difference in respect shown between the two pundits says a lot about how well Wrighty conducts himself.
Following the suggestion that quality should be considered over success as a player or gender, Aluko has now given her own statement. Responding to Woods, with whom she has worked previously, the 38-year-old stated (per talkSPORT):
"I respect Laura's opinion as I have always done. For eleven years, I have worked alongside the likes of Laura and all those considered the best pundits in the game. It's therefore clear I was considered one of the best, too, if I was part of the same punditry team.
"No one who has ever hired me as a pundit has said I wasn't good enough or did not have all the attributes Laura referred to. Quite the contrary. I believe that women's football should prioritise women as the faces of the sport - it's as simple as that.
"I think women should be the dominant force in the women's game in the same way that men are the dominant force in the men's game. That means men should play more of a supporting role."
Aluko Has Slammed 'Disrespectful' Ian Wright
ian wright pundit
Following on from her podcast appearance this week, Aluko addressed the 'weaponisation' of Wright's name against her, in her eyes. The ex-Chelsea star claimed her attempted apology to the Arsenal icon, which was declined last year, was met with 'disrespect'.
"The weaponisation of Ian Wright's name against me is why we are still talking about him. The reality is, we had an opportunity nine months ago to quieten this, to have an adult conversation and talk about our perspectives," she said in a video posted to her social media.
"When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately, he had an opportunity to show the grace and allyship that he showed to many other people, and to prove that he is the ally that he says he is. Unfortunately my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect."
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 09-02-26.