Former England international Eni Aluko has spoken out about the continued dominance of men in coaching and broadcasting roles within women’s football. Aluko, who retired from an 18-year playing career in 2019, highlighted this issue 10 years after she made history as the first female pundit on BBC’s Match of the Day.
Having played for clubs such as Chelsea and Juventus, Aluko has since taken on director roles at clubs like Aston Villa and Angel City FC. Her comments came in response to a LinkedIn post celebrating her groundbreaking achievement on Match of the Day in September 2014. The post, shared by talent agency Tongue Tied Management, commended Aluko for paving the way for female involvement in men’s football broadcasting.
While expressing gratitude for the acknowledgement, Aluko also raised concerns about the lack of progress in women’s football broadcasting over the past decade. She pointed out that there are still very few regular punditry spots for women across multiple broadcasters, indicating a disparity in opportunities compared to men. Aluko also highlighted the issue of male domination in broadcasting and coaching roles within women’s football, attributing it to the availability of more money in the sport.
In addition to addressing the unequal distribution of roles, Aluko called out the prevalence of sexism, misogyny, and racism in football fan culture. She emphasised the need for football broadcasters to improve their support and protection of pundits who face such abuses, stating that these forms of discrimination should not be considered acceptable within the industry.
Aluko’s stance on these issues is not without personal experience, as she has been a target of misogynistic and racist abuse in the past. The trial concerning accusations of malicious communications directed towards Aluko, allegedly from former Premier League footballer Joey Barton, is set to take place next year.
Despite the progress made in some areas of women’s football, Aluko’s comments shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by women in the sport. Her statement serves as a reminder of the work still required to achieve true gender equality and inclusivity in football broadcasting and beyond.