Ian Wright has put out a video saying he ‘can’t accept’ Eni Aluko’s apology after she claimed that the Arsenal legend was ‘blocking’ opportunities for female broadcasters in women’s football by featuring so prominently in programming.
Aluko had said that Ian Wright was ‘dominating’ the punditry side of the women’s game and that he needed to ‘be aware’ that he was taking up a position which could be filled by a female pundit. Which is obviously an outrageous thing to say about once of the nicest guys in football who is also one of the biggest advocates of women’s football.
In a video message on Instagram, Ian Wright said the following:
‘I have to talk about this week and what’s going on, I don’t want to endlessly be asked about it.
‘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 at anyone on any of this.
‘The thing about where the women’s game is, is that it can’t be about individuals like 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, the game has serious systemic challenges, and it’s going to take everyone to help fix it. So for me, I always give back to the game, it’s given me so much.
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‘I was with the Ten Em Bee girls team last night and the vibes were great, I’ve got to post a picture of them or otherwise I’ll get in trouble later.
‘Anyway, let me not digress, it’s never bothered me about who is 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 and when you think about it, we are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, greater than most, to lead the way in women’s football.
‘We men, like I mentioned earlier, are the ones who banned women’s football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one. I’m going to leave it there, I’m going on too much but before I go, I need to say to everyone who has spoken about it publicly and has shown love and support, I thank you. It’s something I do not take for granted.
‘I’ve never felt quite as emotional this week seeing so many of those public messages of support. Kayleigh [McDonald], I love you so much. Take it easy everyone.’
Wow. Do you know how badly you need to f*** up for Ian Wright to refuse to accept your apology? This is one of nicest, most humble and friendliest people in football we’re talking about. Just goes to show how disrespected he feels about the whole thing, and rightly so.
Wouldn’t it have been a better idea for Eni Aluko to apologise to him privately and in person? Or better yet, to bring up any reservations she had about him being a women’s football pundit (as dumb those as reservations are) to his face in the first place?
Well anyway, what’s done is done. The worst part about it is that Eni Aluko can’t throw the race card at Ian Wright like she usually does in these situations, for obvious reasons. Choose your enemies carefully, Eni!
