Aluko’s Criticism of Pundits Sparks Questions About Her Standing in Women’s Football
LONDON – Eni Aluko, the former England international who successfully sued Joey Barton over defamatory social media posts, has found herself at the center of a new controversy after publicly criticizing fellow broadcasters Ian Wright and Nedum Onuoha. The fallout has revealed a growing sense of isolation for Aluko within the women’s football community, raising questions about her approach and professional relationships.
Aluko’s legal victory against Barton, who received a suspended sentence in December 2025 for “grossly offensive” posts targeting Aluko, Jeremy Vine, and Lucy Ward, was initially hailed as a significant moment in the fight against online harassment. Barton had compared Aluko and Ward to serial killers in 2024. However, Aluko’s subsequent appearances on podcasts and talkSPORT took an unexpected turn, shifting focus from her battle against abuse to accusations against Wright and Onuoha.
She alleged that the presence of Wright and Onuoha on women’s football broadcasts was hindering her own career opportunities, a claim met with silence from both men. Wright, a vocal advocate for the women’s game, reportedly feels “indignant” but has chosen not to respond publicly. Onuoha, currently an analyst for ESPN covering the Women’s Champions League, has similarly refrained from engaging with Aluko’s claims.
The controversy has been compounded by a perceived lack of support from within the women’s football world. Even Aluko’s former England teammate, Lianne Sanderson, who previously publicly supported her during a separate controversy involving a former national team manager, has remained silent.
Sources within the industry describe Aluko as “divisive” and prone to alienating colleagues. One source told Daily Mail Sport that “so many friends she has had have fallen out with her massively,” adding that she “reads the room all wrong.”
Instances of interpersonal friction have surfaced, including an incident at the 2018 World Cup involving Patrice Evra, where Aluko perceived a clap from the former Manchester United player as patronizing. She even mentioned the episode in her autobiography, framing it as a matter of “casual sexism.”
Further complicating matters, Aluko mispronounced Onuoha’s surname as “Onoora” during an initial discussion on the podcast, a gaffe that drew criticism.
The situation has prompted some to re-examine the events surrounding the dismissal of Mark Sampson, the former England manager, in 2017, following allegations of discriminatory conduct towards Aluko. A barrister-led inquiry found Sampson had made a racially discriminatory joke, but concluded he was “not a racist.”
Despite the controversy, Aluko maintains a diverse portfolio of work, including a part-share in Italian club FC Como Women and Bristol City Women through the Mercury13 investment group, as well as ambassadorial roles and corporate speaking engagements. However, her recent comments suggest a concern about her broadcasting future.
While Aluko has demonstrated courage in confronting online abuse, her current trajectory raises questions about her approach to professional relationships and her standing within the evolving landscape of women’s football.