Former footballer turned pundit Eni Aluko made headlines this week when she accused Ian Wright of “blocking” opportunities for female broadcasters on television. She claimed that the iconic ex-Arsenal and England star is “dominating” the women’s game.
It's not the first time she's voiced her frustration with Wright, with the former Lioness speaking out in a similar manner in April last year. She later apologised for her comments, but the male pundit wasn't willing to accept this, stating that he was "disappointed" with how she had behaved.
Simon Jordan's Fiery Exchange With Eni Aluko
Her recent comments have once again sparked a huge reaction from within the football world, and Aluko was invited on TalkSport to discuss her argument with host Simon Jordan.
Needless to say, it was a rather explosive interview that followed, with Jordan more than willing to give his take on the matter, as he was less than complimentary about Aluko's credentials as a pundit. She had questioned why the likes of Wright and Nedum Onuoha had been given more media opportunities than her, when she'd achieved so much in the women's game, like winning 102 England caps.
Jordan's tone of argument can best be summed up by his withering comment, as he told Aluko: "The sheer weight of self-entitlement you seem to have would sink the titanic."
Jordan did agree with Aluko's idea to have the main pundit roles go to women for women's football coverage and vice versa, but his more scathing comments about her ability as a pundit did seem to take her back. She said, "It's an opinion, which we're all entitled to. I put value on them, everybody has them."
She also added: "I appreciate what you're saying, but in reality, I've been good enough for 11 years and as I said, I'm the person to go and seek out feedback, for someone to go: 'I think you're struggling'...it's never happened."
At one point in the midst of the fiery show, the programme cut to an ad break. As it returned, Jordan could be seen angrily gesticulating towards Aluko, who appeared to pull a face before turning her head away from the former Crystal Palace chairman.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman has now revealed, via the Daily Mail, some of what was said during that exchange. According to him, Jordan said:
"But nobody cares, drop this. It's definitely you. I know it. I know."
However, the lip reader was not able to be sure on what Aluko said in response.
Roy Keane Eni Aluko Related
What Eni Aluko Said About Roy Keane Looks Interesting Now Amid Ian Wright Row
Ian Wright and Roy Keane are known to be close friends, making Eni Aluko's feelings about the latter very interesting now.
Aluko Blames Wright For Public 'Pile-on'
Eni Aluko
Eni Aluko
In particular, Aluko's secondary wave of comments on Wright appears to be born out of a frustration with the Englishman for not accepting her apology. She claimed that this led to a pile-on, noting:
"When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately he had an opportunity to show the grace and the allyship that he showed to many other people. And to prove that he's the ally that everybody says he is.
"Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect. Where he said, 'I don't accept your apology'. And he green-lit all of these people to pile on."
Aluko then revealed how her mother was confronted by the press and accused the media of breaking into her private letterbox in the days that followed, citing the lack of an apology as the reason why she continues to speak about the problems today.
Jordan's argument with Aluko centred more directly on her opportunities as a pundit. He made it clear that he simply doesn't think she's deserving of more work, noting:
"As far as expertise is concerned, the times that I’ve listened to her – I don’t think that she’s particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic. I don’t think she comes across particularly likeable but that’s my view, but some people have the same view of me.”