Simon Jordan Confronts Eni Aluko Over Ian Wright Comments in talkSPORT Studio Spat
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has disclosed that he labelled Eni Aluko "foolish" during a contentious ad-break confrontation on talkSPORT, following her public criticism of fellow pundit Ian Wright. The exchange occurred during Tuesday's broadcast, where Aluko joined Jordan and host Jim White to discuss the ongoing fallout from her remarks about Wright, which she has since reignited.
Ad-Break Tensions Revealed
Viewers observed Jordan gesticulating aggressively towards Aluko during a commercial break, sparking speculation about the nature of their discussion. Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman initially suggested Jordan told Aluko, "But nobody cares, drop this. It's definitely you. I know it. I know." However, Jordan has vehemently denied this interpretation, providing his own account of the conversation.
"What I said to Eni in the break was 'you were foolish to have a go at Ian Wright'," Jordan stated on Wednesday. "For whatever reason, he's a national treasure, you're silly to have done that, you shouldn't have done it, you should have left it alone. It's your own fault, you brought this upon yourself." Jordan insisted the exchange was "fluid" rather than hostile or aggressive.
Aluko's Controversial Comments and Broadcasting Exit
The dispute originates from Aluko's comments last April, where she suggested Wright needed greater awareness of "how much he's doing in the women's game." Despite apologising ten months ago—an apology Wright rejected—Aluko recently revisited the controversy on the 90s Baby Show podcast. Her primary grievance centres on Wright and Nedum Onuoha occupying two of six punditry spots during the Women's Euros final last summer, while she and fellow Lionesses legend Fara Williams were excluded.
During the talkSPORT appearance, Jordan criticised Aluko directly, describing her as not "particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic" as a pundit. He accused her of entitlement, stating, "The sheer weight of the entitlement that you seem to believe that you have would re-sink the Titanic." Jordan further suggested her broadcasting opportunities had diminished due to her perceived value rather than her own choices.
Aluko countered by revealing she had voluntarily stepped back from broadcasting, labelling British television a "very toxic space." "I'm fighting now to just even have an opinion," she explained. "There is a feeling that I can't say anything without the instant backlash that comes with the fact people have already decided they don't like you." She announced her departure from UK punditry for the foreseeable future, though she maintains overseas commitments with adidas and UNICEF.
Broader Debate Over Women's Football Punditry
Aluko's comments have ignited a wider debate about gender representation in football broadcasting. She argues that women's football should be "by women, for women," with men playing supportive roles rather than dominating punditry positions. This perspective has drawn criticism from ITV presenter Laura Woods, who called the phrase "one of the most damaging" she has heard, warning it could "drag women's punditry backwards" by gatekeeping the sport.
Aluko defended her stance, emphasising that women should be the "dominant force" in women's football, analogous to men in the men's game. She highlighted the disparity in opportunities, noting that while male pundits like Wright feature prominently in women's finals, female pundits rarely secure equivalent roles in men's major finals. "The limited opportunities in the women's game are now being taken by men, but we can't go into the men's game and take the same opportunities. We are stuck," Aluko lamented.
Ongoing Feud with Ian Wright
Aluko has also criticised Wright for failing to act as an "ally" during her contract negotiations with ITV. She claimed that after ITV declined to renew her contract, citing Wright as a priority, she sought his influence to retain her position but received dismissive responses. "I fully expected Ian to use his influence to keep me in the game. I've seen him do it with others," Aluko stated, expressing disappointment at his perceived lack of support.
In a recent Instagram video, Aluko accused Wright of weaponising their feud against her, claiming his refusal to accept her apology led to public backlash. She remains open to reconciliation, stating, "I'm more than open to a conversation with Ian Wright. I've said my piece." Wright's representatives have not commented on the latest developments.
The controversy underscores deeper tensions within football punditry, touching on issues of diversity, opportunity, and the evolving role of broadcasters in both men's and women's sports. As Aluko exits the UK broadcasting scene, the debate over representation and allyship in the industry continues to simmer.
