Arsenal legend, Ian Wright has rejected Eni Aluko’s apology after she accused him of ‘blocking’ opportunities for women in football.
Aluko made the claims during an appearance on Radio Four’s Women’s Hour on Wednesday, in which she also claimed her punditry career had been damaged by ex-Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton, who she’s suing for libel, after he dubbed her a ‘race card player’ on social media in January last year.
She had also said that ITV continuing to employ Wright to cover the women’s game hampered the chances of female pundits coming into the industry.
Aluko issued an apology to Wright on Friday, which the Arsenal legend has now rejected in a social media post.
‘I have to talk about this week and what’s going on, I don’t want to endlessly be asked about it,’ Wright said. ‘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 on any of this.
‘The thing about where the women’s game is, it isn’t about 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 we know the game has serious systemic challenges, and it’s going to take everyone to help fixes. So for me, I always give back to the game, it’s given me so much.
‘It’s never bothered me about who’s 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.
‘We are the country that invented modern football, so we have a responsibility, to lead the way in women’s football
‘We men are the ones that banned women’s football for 50 years, so we have to hold that one. I need to say to everyone who has spoken about it publicly and showed love and support, I say thank you. It’s something I do not take for granted.’
Wright also thanked Stoke forward Kayleigh McDonald, who revealed after Aluko’s comments that the Arsenal legend has been funding her recovery following an ACL injury.
Stoke were not paying for McDonald’s treatment and she set up a GoFundMe page. The club then backtracked and according to the report, before she was then told that funding would be withdrawn.
Wright is then said to have paid the £1,700-a-month McDonald needed for rehab, in addition to a sports lawyer to help advocate for her.