Ian Wright has told trolls targeting Eni Aluko they need to “grow up” in a staunch defence of his ITV pundit colleague.
Aluko, who earned more than 100 England caps during a glittering playing career, is part of the broadcaster’s star-studded line-up out in Qatar covering the World Cup. The former Lioness is a regular contributor alongside the likes of Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville.
However, she has come in for criticism following an innocent mistake in the build-up to Brazil’s thumping round-of-16 win over South Korea. In previewing the match at Stadium 974, Aluko discussed Tottenham striker Richarlison and his record for the national side.
“He’s the top scorer for Brazil over the last two years.. He’s for a great record - 19 goals in 40 games, do the math and it’s a goal-a-game pretty much.”
Despite the fact the error was clearly a slip of the tongue, fans across social media were quick to jump on it, with one video racking up over two million views in less than 24 hours.
But Wright was equally swift to respond to the negativity, posting on social media: “I've made countless mistakes live on air. The replies to this are horrible. You man are so pressed by women in football that you take pure pleasure in this. Grow up.”
Aluko became the first female pundit to appear on BBC Match of the Day back in 2014 and following her retirement in 2020 has remained a regular fixture. Wright has also been a valued member of BBC’s flagship football show, but did leave towards the start of his own punditry career.
After stepping away from the line-up in 2008, Wright claimed he felt that he was only on the show to act as comedic relief from the more serious voices on the sofa.
"I feel like I'm just there as a comedy jester to break the ice with Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen, who just do run-of-the-mill things. I can't do that any more. People want something different," he said at the time.
He has since returned to join Gary Lineker and co, remaining as one of the nation’s most beloved football pundits. Earlier in this tournament, Wright was the centre of a bizarre row when former anchor Des Lynam accused the current incumbent of the role, Laura Woods, of over familiarity with the Arsenal legend.
Lynam wrote a column analysing the work of the pundits and took aim at Woods for referring to the pundit as ‘Wrighty’, despite many other presenters doing the same.
"This was the first live match for ITV and was presented by the ever–smiling Laura Woods. She has done quite a lot of presentation work on both radio and television and comes over as both confident and capable," Lynam wrote for the Daily Telegraph.
"She called Ian Wright ‘Wrighty’ which sounds comfortable coming from the likes of Lineker but it made me slightly wince. I may be wrong and perhaps they are close friends but the over-familiarity made me a touch uncomfortable.
Wright was again quick to defend his colleague on social media, posting: “How’s Des vexed that Laura called me ‘Wrighty’!!! Looking for something negative to write,” alongside a GIF featuring the text “I know a hater’s voice when I hear it.”
He then doubled down after Woods called him Ian during the broadcast of France vs Denmark. "You know what Lozza, it doesn't matter, you don't have to call me Ian. Look, how long we've known each other? Call me Wrighty like you normally do,” he said.
