Male pundits risk blocking opportunities for women – Aluko

Eni Aluko, a former England striker, claims that Ian Wright and other male presenters risk preventing female journalists from getting interviews.

Aluko, 38, claims Wright needs to be aware of how important he is to the women’s game because there are “finite amounts of opportunities” for women in an interview with BBC Radio 4.

Wright has a long history of being a pundit, particularly for the Lionesses, and is a strong supporter of women’s football.

“I’ve worked with Ian for a while, and I think he’s a fantastic broadcaster, but I think he’s aware of how important he is to the women’s game. He ought to be aware of that, Aluko said.

There are only a small number of spaces available, according to the fact. It’s a free for all situation if there was the same equality of opportunity for broadcasters and coaches as there is for women’s players.

“But that’s not the case,” the statement goes on. You know you used Ian as an example, but I can’t dominate the men’s game.

When asked if Wright should cover women’s football, Aluko responded, “I don’t know about it being wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and make sure that women aren’t being prevented from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women’s game.

Aluko claims that Joey Barton, a former player for Newcastle and Manchester City, has been damaged by her ongoing civil legal case.

The former striker applauded the High Court’s decision to dismiss Barton’s first libel claim arising from posts on social media.

Barton has the right to file an appeal against the decision regarding the nature of his posts. If the case goes to trial, the 42-year-old could also use defense to support the claims.

She said, “Women who stand up for themselves suffer a blow to their careers in many different industries.”

“I’ve been doing broadcasting for 11 years. I’ve never used it before. And I’ve done the least amount of TV in my entire 18 months.

That is merely a fact. That is an opinion, not a feeling. That is true. Therefore, I believe that everyone can take their own conclusions from that.

There is a “double standard” because there are only a select few opportunities for women broadcasters in both the men’s and women’s sports.

We are still vying for two or three seats, including the presenters, to be in.

“Women football fans and Joey Bartons want women to leave the TV,” they say.

After Barton twice posted two defamatory posts on social media site X in January 2024, Aluko claimed she faced threats of violence and abuse.

According to the court, Barton claimed Aluko’s father was financially corrupt, that her private education made her a “hypocrite,” and that she had “used the race card” as a charge.

Due to the hearing, Aluko claimed she had to leave the house in disguise.

Joey Barton has tweeted about me in 45 tweets, she said.

And what that does is it has an impact on you in real life, where it just feels like a tsunami of abuse and likes to play in a fishbowl. And it makes me more self-conscious.