ENI ALUKO admits she was “wrong” to suggest Ian Wright has blocked opportunities for female pundits and “respects” his decision not to accept her public apology.
Aluko, 38, and Wright, 61, were caught in a storm back in April when the former Lioness insinuated the Arsenal legend is getting in the way in women’s football.
The ex-Chelsea ace spoke about the importance of making sure female pundits were not blocked by men, suggesting there is a finite amount of opportunities and men need to be aware of that.
Aluko told Radio Four’s Women’s Hour three months ago: “I’ve worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he’s a brilliant broadcaster.
“But 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.
“We need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women’s game.”
Aluko has since apologised to Wright after public backlash, but the Match of the Day legend was left “very disappointed” and is unable to accept.
Now the former Juventus ace has held her hands up and conceded she could have handled the whole situation in a better manner.
Aluko told The Mirror: “I think I could have done better in responding to the question I was asked, and just keeping it as a general issue.
“I’ve always been the person, to be honest, to hold my hands up and say: ‘Listen, I got that one wrong. That was, that was a mistake’. If I had been on the other end, I would probably have felt the same.
“Apologies are acts of respect. Apologies are a show of humility. I did a lot to try to apologise to Ian privately.
“So when you’re seeing a public apology, it’s actually the last resort. But it was a public forum that I spoke about him on, and I felt a public apology was important.
“I respect that [Wright’s refusal to accept her apology]. I respect how he feels. It’s really about my apology. That’s all I can do.
“Then, whenever the person’s ready to have a conversation, I’m ready to have a conversation. But I respect if it’s not the right time, I totally respect that.”
Aluko has since returned to punditry as she covers this summer’s Women’s European Championships.
Read the full article here