Laura Woods has responded emphatically to Eni Aluko’s assertion that only female pundits should be permitted to commentate on women’s football.
Eni Aluko, a former striker for the England women’s team, expressed her discontent with the BBC and ITV for their decision to feature Ian Wright and Nedum Onuoha as pundits during the Euro 2025 final, where the Lionesses triumphed over Spain. Although Aluko was part of the punditry team for Euro 2025, she did not cover an England match nor participate in the final itself.
During a recent episode of the 90s Baby Show podcast, the 38-year-old argued that women’s football commentary should be exclusively assigned to female pundits due to the limited opportunities available to women in the men’s football sector. Aluko also referenced her own impressive record of England caps, along with that of Fara Williams, who also did not feature as a pundit for the final.
In a detailed social media thread, Woods, who is the presenter for ITV’s Lionesses coverage, dismantled Aluko’s viewpoint. She stated, "Having caps does not guarantee job opportunities, nor does it necessarily make someone an excellent pundit. What truly counts is how effectively you communicate, articulate your thoughts, conduct research, engage your audience, and foster rapport with your co-panelists.
"The notion that 'the women’s game should be by women for women' is one of the most detrimental phrases I have encountered. This mentality risks not only hindering the advancement of women’s sports but also stifling the growth of women’s punditry across all levels of the game.
"To nurture something, we shouldn’t impose barriers. Our goal should be to inspire young boys and men to engage with women’s football, not solely girls and women. When they see figures like Ian Wright dedicating serious attention to the sport, it motivates them to follow his lead. That’s how you cultivate a sport's popularity.
"Take a look at our team at ITV. We were honored with the best production award at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2025 for our coverage of the women’s Euros. Additionally, Seb Hutchinson earned the title of best commentator. Clearly, ITV has made the right choices in this regard."
In a past incident, Aluko criticized Wright, claiming he was "blocking opportunities" for women and dominating roles within women’s football commentary. She later issued an apology via social media, which Wright declined to accept. Yet, Aluko reignited this debate during her latest podcast discussion.
Reflecting on her experiences from the Women’s Lionesses final last year, Aluko shared, "I was seated in the stands, not featured on ITV for the final, alongside Fara Williams, who holds an astonishing 172 England caps as the most-capped player. Meanwhile, the two broadcasters covering the event—ITV and BBC—had Ellen White, Steph Houghton, and Nedum Onuoha on the BBC panel. I hold no ill will towards Nedum, as I am unsure of his England connection, but I question why a male pundit was chosen for such a crucial role in women’s football.
"On the ITV side, I was in the stands with my own 105 caps, and notably, between Fara and myself, we accumulated an impressive total of 290 caps. Yet, out of six pundit positions, two of them were filled by men. We had 290 caps worth of expertise sitting unused in the stands.
"This isn’t about Ian or any specific individuals; it’s a broader issue. We must recognize that if we aim to grow the sport, we cannot allow the few available opportunities to be monopolized by men, especially when women experience significant barriers to entry into men’s football. We find ourselves at an impasse."
