Quick Read
- Laura Woods publicly challenged Eni Aluko’s recent criticisms of male pundits in women’s football on February 9, 2026.
- Woods stated that ‘Caps don’t win automatic work’ and called ‘The women’s game should be by women for women’ a ‘damaging phrase.’
- Aluko reignited the dispute by expressing frustration over male pundits at the 2025 Lionesses’ Euro final, claiming limited opportunities for women.
- Aluko revealed Ian Wright refused her apology nine months prior, leading to further public ‘abuse’ against her.
- Paddy Kenny and Steph Houghton have also weighed in on the ongoing debate, which began in April 2025.
LONDON (Azat TV) – Veteran sports broadcaster Laura Woods has publicly challenged former England international Eni Aluko’s renewed criticism of male pundits in women’s football, reigniting a nine-month-old dispute that underscores fundamental disagreements over inclusivity and meritocracy in sports broadcasting. Woods’ strong social media response on Monday, February 9, 2026, directly addressed Aluko’s recent claims about limited opportunities for female pundits, bringing a long-simmering tension back into the spotlight.
Woods Challenges ‘Women for Women’ Stance
In a series of posts on X, Laura Woods, a prominent ITV and TNT Sports presenter, directly countered Aluko’s argument that the women’s game should be exclusively ‘by women for women.’ Woods asserted that ‘Caps don’t win automatic work and they don’t make a brilliant pundit either,’ emphasizing that true punditry relies on communication, articulation, research, audience engagement, likeability, and panel chemistry. She branded the ‘women’s game should be by women for women’ phrase as ‘one of the most damaging’ she has heard, arguing it could hinder the growth of women’s sport and punditry across all forms of the game. Woods highlighted that encouraging broader viewership, including men and boys, is crucial for growth, citing figures like Ian Wright as positive influences.
Woods further underscored the importance of diverse talent by referencing ITV’s award-winning coverage of the Women’s Euros 2025, which included a varied team of presenters and commentators, with Seb Hutchinson winning Best Commentator at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025.
Aluko’s Renewed Grievances and Wright Feud
Woods’ intervention came after Eni Aluko, a former Chelsea and Juventus player, reiterated her frustrations regarding punditry assignments for the Lionesses’ successful European Championship final in 2025. Speaking on the ’90s Baby Show,’ Aluko expressed dismay that male pundits, specifically Ian Wright for ITV and Nedum Onuoha for BBC, were on the main panels while she and fellow former Lioness Fara Williams, with a combined 290 England caps, were in the stands. Aluko questioned why women with extensive experience were overlooked for premium opportunities, especially given the perceived difficulty for female pundits to secure equivalent roles in the men’s game.
Aluko explicitly stated, ‘The women’s game should be by women, for women. Male allies should absolutely support that, but when it gets to the point where you are the main character of the show, we are just repeating the patriarchal stuff we have been fighting against.’ She claimed that limited opportunities in women’s football are now being taken by men, while women are unable to reciprocate in the men’s game, leaving them ‘stuck.’
The current flare-up is a continuation of a controversy that began in April 2025, when Aluko first publicly criticized Ian Wright’s involvement in women’s football punditry. Aluko revealed on Instagram that despite her public and private apologies, Wright refused to accept them, which she believes ‘greenlit all of these other people to pile on, and to further abuse me for my opinion.’ She stated she has received limited offers since speaking out against Wright and expressed disappointment that an ‘active choice’ not to work with her is being made by some, which she deemed ‘childish.’
Broader Industry Reactions and Ongoing Debate
The controversy has drawn reactions from across the football world. Ian Wright has consistently refused to accept Aluko’s apology, receiving support from various figures, including former England women’s captain Steph Houghton. Former Sheffield United and QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny also reopened his long-standing feud with Aluko, publicly siding with Woods. Kenny previously had a public spat with Aluko in 2023 over her comments on football transfers, underscoring a history of contentious exchanges involving Aluko.
The debate highlights a significant tension within the rapidly growing women’s football industry: how to balance the desire to promote and empower women in media roles with the broader journalistic principles of merit-based selection and inclusive audience engagement. As the sport continues to expand globally, with the next major international tournament being the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, these discussions are likely to remain central to its media representation.
The renewed public exchange between Laura Woods and Eni Aluko illustrates the deep-seated, conflicting philosophies on how best to nurture and professionalize women’s football broadcasting, revealing a complex intersection of identity, opportunity, and perceived fairness that extends beyond individual personalities to the very ethos of sports media development.